A Few 1970 Arizona Obituaries




All obituaries were taken from The Arizona Republic unless otherwise indicated.

RATLIFF, Rollie R.

Rollie R. Ratliff, 84, a former self-employed landscape gardener, died Sunday, Mar. 1, 1970, in a Phoenix hospital. Mr. Ratliff, 5135 E. Taylor, was born in Graham, Texas, and came here in 1928 from Canute, Oklahoma. He was a past member of the Odd Fellows. Survivors include a son, Charles of West Sacramento, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. Samuel Muse of Mohave Valley; a sister, Mrs. Alice Culberson, Amarillo, Tex.; 6 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Green Acres Mortuary, 401 N. Hayden, Scottsdale. Burial will be in Green Acres Cemetery. The Arizona Republic Tuesday, March 3, 1970.

RAY, Benjamin Joseph

Tempe -- Benjamin Joseph Ray, 44, a tool and diemaker for F&B Mfg. Co. of Phoenix, was born in Chicago and came to Tempe in 1963 from Lombard, Illinois. He died Thurs., March 5, 1970. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Tempe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. Wife, Lorraine; sons, Bob, Michael, Bill and John; daughter, Laura SCHEBEN; mother, Bernice RAY of Addison, Illinois; two brothers out of state. Funeral Mass was said in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. Burial in Green Acres Cemetery. 3/7/1970.

RAY, James F. "Jim"

James F. "Jim" Ray, 59, a superintendent with Western Cotton Products 34 years, died Sun., Mar. 8, 1970, in a local hospital. He was born in Flora, IL, and came here in 1927. Ray was burned over 85 per cent of his body February 26, 1970, in an explosion and fire at the firm's oil separator plant, 51st Ave and Buckeye, used to produce and refine cottonseed oil from cottonseed meal. Survivors include his wife, Virginia; son, James F., Jr., daughter, Mrs. Leona FIELDS; sisters, Mrs. John CARR, Mrs. John CUTTING and Mrs. Carl LOUDEN, all of Phoenix; brothers, Ivan of Tucson and Thomas of Phoenix. Burial in Greenwood Memorial Park. 3/9/1970.

REED, Alma
REED, Malcolm E.

Carefree -- Malcolm E. Reed, 81, and Alma Reed, 68, 8016 E. Carefree Dr., came here in 1961 from Fairbanks, Alaska. Mr. Reed died Wed., Dec. 16, 1970, in a local nursing home. He was a native of Michigan and was a retired dry cleaning plan operator. His survivors include a son, Malcolm, Jr., Omaha; a daughter, Mrs. Renee Kleinert, Madison, WI; a sister out of state and six grandchildren.
Mrs. Reed died Thurs., Dec. 17, 1970, in St. Joseph's Hospital. She was a native of Kalispell, Montana. Her survivors include a son, Phillip Clarke, Tamal, CA; a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Evans, Fairbanks; a brother out of state and eight grandchildren. Burial for both was in Deer Valley Cemetery. 12/20/1970.

REID, Eulah A.

Peoria -- Mrs. Eulah A. Reid, 84, a native of Hollywood, Arkansas, who came to the Valley 54 years ago from El Paso, died yesterday, Mar. 3, 1970, in Wickenburg Community Hospital. Mrs. Reid, of 11529 N. 93rd Drive, had resided in Peoria the past 15 years and was a member of the Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Church. Survivors include five sons, Bill, Elmer and Kenneth, all of Phoenix, and Jess and Ralph, both of Blythe, Calif.; four daughters, Mrs. Henrietta Dowdy of Phoenix, Mrs. Josephine Ross of Peoria, Mrs. Hazel Richardson of Ajo and Mrs. Ella Davis of Wickenburg; a brother and three half-sisters out of state; and 22 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. Services tomorrow in Sunset Chapel, 301 W. Camelback, Phoenix. Burial in East Resthaven Cemetery, Phoenix. Published in the Arizona Republic March 4, 1970.

REIDHEAD, Ernest B.

Show Low -- Ernest Bruce Reidhead, 56, a lumber dealer and former Show Low mayor who died Dec. 18, 1970, in his home, was born in Show Low and lived most of his life there. He owned and operated the Reidhead & Chlarson Lumber Co. for 24 years and also for the past 20 years owned the B&R Lumber Co. He was mayor of Show Low in 1959-60 and served on the town council as police commissioner for several years. He was a member of the Show Low LDS Church and the Elks Lodge and was a former member of the Lions Club. Survivors include his wife, Ethel; three sons, O'Dell, LeRoy and George; two daughters, Mrs. Anita Joy Goucher and Mrs. Sandra Keith, all of Show Low; one brother, Lester of Nutrioso; and 16 grandchildren. Burial in Show Low Cemetery. 12/19/1970.

RIAL, Jessie L.

Graveside rites for Mrs. Jessie L. Rial, 98, who came to Globe in 1913 and Phoenix in 1915, were in Double Butte Cemetery, Tempe. Mrs. Rial, formerly of 1915 W. Palm Lane, died Tuesday (12/15/1970) in Brawley, Calif., where she lived the past 18 months. She was a member of Trinity Methodist Church and Royal Neighbors of American. Born in Bell County, Texas, she came to Arizona from Muskogee, Oklahoma. Survivors include two sons, Vachel H. Anderson of Brawley; Clarence V. Anderson of St. Johns; two daughters, Mrs. Bert Franzen and Mrs. Mae Messick, who both moved to Honolulu a month ago from Phoenix; 10 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Published Friday, Dec. 18, 1970.

RICHARDS, Ernest W.

Camp Verde -- Ernest W. Richards, 83, died Thurs., Dec. 10, 1970, in his home. He was born in Mesa and lived in the Verde Valley since 1907. He was a retired cattle rancher. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen; one son, Ernest, Jr., of Phoenix; one daughter, Mrs. Mary Lois Karkula of Chandler; two brothers, Harold of RImrock and one out of state; two sisters; Mrs. Maudie Watts of Cottonwood and one out of state; and four grandchildren. Services were in the First Baptist Church. Burial in Clear Creek Cemetery. 12/12/1970.

RIDGELY, Iva B.

Iva B. Ridgely, 87, who came here in 1955 from Gary, IN, died Thurs., Dec. 17, 1970, in Good Samaritan Hospital. Mrs. Ridgely was born in Valparaiso, IN. She was a member of the First Congregational Church. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Louis A. Grieger of Phx and Martha Ridgely of Los Angeles; four sisters out of state; four grandchildren and a great-grandson. Services and burial were in Gary, IN. Published Sat. 12/19/1970.

RIORDAN, Mary "Madeline"

Mary "Madeline" Riordan, 84, was born in Monmouth, IL, and died Wed., Dec. 31, 1969, in Doctors Hospital. She came here from Chicago in 1952. Daughter, Mrs. Walt DITZEN of Scottsdale; a son, Edward K. of Los Angeles; one sister and two brothers out of state; two grandchildren. Funeral Mass was in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4510 N. 24th St. Burial in Macomb, Illinois. Published in the Arizona Republic 1/1/1970.


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