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MEREDITH — Ronald "Ron" A. Ratchford, 71, of Ashland Drive, died July 4, 2005, peacefully at his home after a short and unexpected illness. He was the beloved husband of Rosemary for 42 years. He was born Nov. 25, 1933 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, the son of the late John and Adelaide Ratchford-Gillard (Buckland).
He served in the Marine Corps from 1954-1962. He was a self-employed plasterer for 26 years and retired in 1990. He was a member of the American Bridge League. He enjoyed country-couple dancing with his wife, spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, wintering in Florida and was an avid bridge player who achieved the status of Life Master quickly. Of Ron, his family wrote, "He was a warm hearted, generous man, whose optimism touched all he knew."
Survivors include his wife, Rosemary B. Ratchford, of Meredith; two daughters and one son-in law, Elyssa and Michael Schmalle of Meredith, and Doreen Ratchford of Northport, Fla.; two sons and two daughter in-laws, Gary and Lisa Ratchford of Moultonboro, David Ratchford and Patricia Sariol of Meredith; five Grandchildren, Joshua and Jasmine Schmalle of Meredith, Ashley and Chelsea Ratchford of Moultonboro, and Tyler Ratchford of Laconia; five sisters, Karen Broderick of Upton, Mass., Eleanor Allan of Naples, Fla., Joan Clarke of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, Bernice Donovan of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Martha Feaver of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada; four brothers, Stephen Gillard of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, Gordon Gillard of Foxboro, Mass., Richard Gillard of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Wilfred Gillard of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He was predeceased by a brother James Gillard formerly of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
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