- Date Of Birth: April 10, 1941
- Date Of Death: September 19, 2022
- State: Indiana
Larry David Ratliff, 81, of South Bend, Indiana passed away on Monday, September 19, 2022. He was born on April 10, 1941 in Milan, Indiana to the late Francis and Mary B. (Miller) Ratliff. On June 28, 1969 at St. John Vianney Church in Cincinnati, Ohio he married Kathleen Louise Hennessy who survives. Larry is also survived by one daughter, Kara (Tracy) Ellis of Seneca, Illinois, one son, David Ratliff, of South Bend, Indiana, and three grandchildren, Keenan, Carter, and Braden Ellis, as well as one brother, Robert (Charlene) Ratliff, two sisters, Mary (Steve) Carter and Ruth (Lee) Rosen, and one sister-in-law, Tricia (George Crow) Hennessy.
Though born in Milan, Indiana, Larry moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with his family around the age of 2. He thoroughly enjoyed spending summers at this grandparents’ farm in Kokomo, Indiana and was a 3:00 am Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper deliverer during high school and college. Larry graduated from Hughes High School in Cincinnati in 1959 and then attended the University of Cincinnati where he received his BBA and MBA in 1963 and 1964 respectively. He was a member of the Ohio Air National Guard from 1965 to 1970. Larry worked for FW Woolworth Co. from 1966-1978 managing stores in Mansfield, OH, Niles, OH, and Richmond, IN. In 1978, he accepted a position as Assistant Manager at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, and the family moved to South Bend. Later, he was promoted to Associate Manager and then Director.
Larry was known well in the neighborhood for his love of sports and playing games in the front yard with his children and all the neighborhood kids. He also enjoyed playing games, especially “Monster,” with his nieces and nephews. Larry loved his grandchildren fiercely and could often be found playing basketball, football, baseball, soccer, or Harry Potter with them. He also loved to travel and enjoyed trips with Kathy to Europe, including Ireland, as well as Hawaii and Hilton Head, South Carolina.
