- Date Of Birth: February 26, 1924
- Date Of Death: September 28, 2021
- State: Iowa
Otho Dale Ratliff Jr was born February 26, 1924 in Stanton, IA to Leah and Otho Dale Ratliff Sr. He graduated from Creston High School, and served the US Army during WWII, stationed in North Africa. Upon discharge he attended Iowa State University, and graduated with a degree in chemistry.
He married Elinor Skaggs on August 21, 1949. They celebrated their 72nd anniversary last August.
His career took him to many different companies to develop products. Once, while attending a Goodyear convention in California he had the thrill of taking a ride over the Pacific Ocean in the Goodyear blimp.
While working at Rocketdyne in Texas he was on the team that designed the solid rocket boosters for the Saturn/Apollo rocket missions, which played key roles in man’s epic first landing on the moon. A plaque signed by Neil Armstrong Edwin Aldren Jr and Michael Collins commemorates this achievement.
He later worked at Westinghouse Air Brake in Greensburg, PA, before retiring near family and friends in Iowa. During retirement Dale enjoyed playing his Baritone in several local bands, including the Des Moines Community Band, and the All Iowa Veterans Band.
Dale was a man of great faith. He was an active member of Windsor Heights Lutheran Church.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his daughter Susan Hudson. He is survived by his wife, Elinor, daughter Christi Weddington of Mt. Calm, Tx. His son Bill(Lara) Ratliff of Powhatan, Virginia, and his granddaughter Ashlee Ratliff.
