David Edgar "Jim" Ratledge was the fourth of NINE children born to Albert Marion Ratledge and Nora Emaline Kephart.
David first married Anna Laura Ruhl on 28 Aug 1929 at Blaine Co., OK. They divorced. His second wife was named "Maxine"; little else is known about her except that she absconded with many of his valuables and disappeared. His third wife was named Carla Sylvester. [Edits by Jan Carpenter]
David's occupation was welding. He was quite talented as a welder even developing techniques as well as designing equipment to weld the inside diameter of pipelines. He travelled extensively and spent months supervising the welding process on pipelines in such places as Argentina.
David lived in Hammond IN for many years but later in life moved to Hemet, Riverside Co., CA to avoid the harsh midwest winters. Welding as a profession had taken a serious toll on his lungs.
When asked, "Why do they call you Jim?" He shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, "I just don't know....someone must have figured it was a good fit."
David's remains were cremated at Hemet, Riverside Co., CA. He had no children that I know of; but he was affectionately close to his parents and siblings. He is memorialized here at Blaine Co., OK where we can remember this kind and gentle man. -- David Bays
__________________________________________
David "Jim" and his first wife Anna adopted their child Wanda Jo who was born to Anna's sister Pearl and brother Manley. This information was passed on by family members living at the time who were privy to events. The birth certificate issued was written incorrectly to protect the parents. Wanda Jo did, in her teens, discover who her biological mother was, but it is unknown if she knew who her biological father was. David had no other children.
His ashes were kept by his 3rd wife Carla who has since passed. The disposition of his ashes are now unknown. ~Jan Carpenter
David first married Anna Laura Ruhl on 28 Aug 1929 at Blaine Co., OK. They divorced. His second wife was named "Maxine"; little else is known about her except that she absconded with many of his valuables and disappeared. His third wife was named Carla Sylvester. [Edits by Jan Carpenter]
David's occupation was welding. He was quite talented as a welder even developing techniques as well as designing equipment to weld the inside diameter of pipelines. He travelled extensively and spent months supervising the welding process on pipelines in such places as Argentina.
David lived in Hammond IN for many years but later in life moved to Hemet, Riverside Co., CA to avoid the harsh midwest winters. Welding as a profession had taken a serious toll on his lungs.
When asked, "Why do they call you Jim?" He shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, "I just don't know....someone must have figured it was a good fit."
David's remains were cremated at Hemet, Riverside Co., CA. He had no children that I know of; but he was affectionately close to his parents and siblings. He is memorialized here at Blaine Co., OK where we can remember this kind and gentle man. -- David Bays
__________________________________________
David "Jim" and his first wife Anna adopted their child Wanda Jo who was born to Anna's sister Pearl and brother Manley. This information was passed on by family members living at the time who were privy to events. The birth certificate issued was written incorrectly to protect the parents. Wanda Jo did, in her teens, discover who her biological mother was, but it is unknown if she knew who her biological father was. David had no other children.
His ashes were kept by his 3rd wife Carla who has since passed. The disposition of his ashes are now unknown. ~Jan Carpenter
David Edgar "Jim" Ratledge was the fourth of NINE children born to Albert Marion Ratledge and Nora Emaline Kephart.
David first married Anna Laura Ruhl on 28 Aug 1929 at Blaine Co., OK. They divorced. His second wife was named "Maxine"; little else is known about her except that she absconded with many of his valuables and disappeared. His third wife was named Carla Sylvester. [Edits by Jan Carpenter]
David's occupation was welding. He was quite talented as a welder even developing techniques as well as designing equipment to weld the inside diameter of pipelines. He travelled extensively and spent months supervising the welding process on pipelines in such places as Argentina.
David lived in Hammond IN for many years but later in life moved to Hemet, Riverside Co., CA to avoid the harsh midwest winters. Welding as a profession had taken a serious toll on his lungs.
When asked, "Why do they call you Jim?" He shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, "I just don't know....someone must have figured it was a good fit."
David's remains were cremated at Hemet, Riverside Co., CA. He had no children that I know of; but he was affectionately close to his parents and siblings. He is memorialized here at Blaine Co., OK where we can remember this kind and gentle man. -- David Bays
__________________________________________
David "Jim" and his first wife Anna adopted their child Wanda Jo who was born to Anna's sister Pearl and brother Manley. This information was passed on by family members living at the time who were privy to events. The birth certificate issued was written incorrectly to protect the parents. Wanda Jo did, in her teens, discover who her biological mother was, but it is unknown if she knew who her biological father was. David had no other children.
His ashes were kept by his 3rd wife Carla who has since passed. The disposition of his ashes are now unknown. ~Jan Carpenter
David first married Anna Laura Ruhl on 28 Aug 1929 at Blaine Co., OK. They divorced. His second wife was named "Maxine"; little else is known about her except that she absconded with many of his valuables and disappeared. His third wife was named Carla Sylvester. [Edits by Jan Carpenter]
David's occupation was welding. He was quite talented as a welder even developing techniques as well as designing equipment to weld the inside diameter of pipelines. He travelled extensively and spent months supervising the welding process on pipelines in such places as Argentina.
David lived in Hammond IN for many years but later in life moved to Hemet, Riverside Co., CA to avoid the harsh midwest winters. Welding as a profession had taken a serious toll on his lungs.
When asked, "Why do they call you Jim?" He shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, "I just don't know....someone must have figured it was a good fit."
David's remains were cremated at Hemet, Riverside Co., CA. He had no children that I know of; but he was affectionately close to his parents and siblings. He is memorialized here at Blaine Co., OK where we can remember this kind and gentle man. -- David Bays
__________________________________________
David "Jim" and his first wife Anna adopted their child Wanda Jo who was born to Anna's sister Pearl and brother Manley. This information was passed on by family members living at the time who were privy to events. The birth certificate issued was written incorrectly to protect the parents. Wanda Jo did, in her teens, discover who her biological mother was, but it is unknown if she knew who her biological father was. David had no other children.
His ashes were kept by his 3rd wife Carla who has since passed. The disposition of his ashes are now unknown. ~Jan Carpenter
Family Members
Siblings
Children
