Obituaries

James D. Ratchford, 92, a longtime Dalton resident, died Sunday at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, after an illness. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 35 years, Jane (Lynn) Ratchford, R.N., on Dec. 9, 1994.
Born on Aug. 14, 1929, son of the late Daniel T. and Rachel Flynn Ratchford, and raised in West Scranton, James was a graduate of St. Patrick’s High School, class of 1947. Shortly after graduation he began a career spanning more than 44 years in the railroad industry. From electrician to management, he began working for Lackawanna Railroad and ultimately retired from Canadian Pacific Railroad on 1991.
Deeply proud of being Irish-Catholic, James was a founding member of the Irish Cultural Society and was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians JFK Division 1. To be forever remembered for his dedicated work ethic and his love for his family, James will be dearly missed.
Of Roman Catholic faith, he was a longtime member of Our Lady of the Abingtons Parish in Dalton.
He is survived by his six children, Daniel Ratchford and wife, Liz, of Factoryville; James Ratchford and wife, Jane, of Cape May Court House, N.J.; Patrick Ratchford, of Dalton; Molly Malone and husband, Joseph, of Stroudsburg; Jane Guilbault and husband, Brian, of Fairport, N.Y.; and Kathryn Ratchford, of Wildwood, N.J.; 10 grandchildren, Rachel and Mary Ratchford, Michael and Emma Ratchford, Jimmy, Rory and Rose Malone, Russell, Martin and Eamon Guilbault; a sister, Louise Hurst, of Scranton; and many nieces and nephews.
His family would like to acknowledge and thank the entire staffs of AseraCare, Hospice of the Sacred Heart and Sinclair Home Health for the collective care, kindness and compassion throughout James’ illness.
The funeral will be Thursday at 10 a.m. from the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., 517 N. Main St., Old Forge, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Abingtons, 700 W. Main St., Dalton, to be celebrated by the Rev. Thomas Petro. Burial will follow at Cathedral Cemetery.
Family and friends may pay their respects Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.