Edward Ruben Ratliff

Edward Ruben Ratliff was born in 1934, and grew up on the East Grand Plains of

New Mexico. His childhood had its share of hardships and adventures, but it was defined by the love, attention to others, and good humor that he carried throughout his life. His life carried him from picking cotton on the farms around Roswell, NM as a boy, to the U.S. Marines Corps, to college, a career, and a family of his own. As a young man, he earned Boy Scout’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, in 1953. He spent four decades as a scoutmaster passing along the skills, wisdom and character-forming experiences he had learned in the program. For this service, he was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Great Southwest Council in 1976. His work in scouting was followed by long and dedicated service to boys in the Royal Rangers program. He also served as a deacon and board member of Central Assembly of God in Albuquerque. He was recognized as “Father of the Year” at Central AG in 1987. Edward attended Eastern New Mexico University and the North American Technical Institute. This prepared him for a 28 year career at Sandia National Laboratories. Prior to working at Sandia, he worked as a U.S. Department of Agriculture surveyor, giving him a deep connection to the mountains and deserts of New Mexico and Arizona. With his wife of 53 and a half years, Anna Mae (Berg), he raised two girls and a boy in Albuquerque, NM. He also traveled extensively around the United States and 12 countries. To his family, he passed along the values he had cultivated his whole life, including faithfulness to God, care for others, and a generous spirit to everyone he met. He never met a stranger. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lacy Ratliff, and his siblings, Russell, Jack, Jess and Sally (Hatley). He is survived by his wife, Anna Mae; his children, Denise Raykovics, Stephanie Rydeski, and Walter Ratliff; and seven grandchildren, Elizabeth and Lacey Raykovics, Morgan, Amanda and Matthew Rydeski, and Richard Edward and Mark Ratliff.