Caroline Copening Ratcliffe

Caroline Barnett Copening Ratcliffe 1947-2014 Caroline Ratcliffe, 67, of Lexington, Missouri died Friday, December 12, 2014 at Research Medical Center Hospice in Kansas City, Missouri. Caroline was born September 9, 1947 in Iola, Kansas to Ruth and Lawrence Copening. She attended Iola public schools graduating from Iola High School where she was a member of the school band. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and a Master's Degree in Spanish from Kansas State University where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Caroline married Sam Ratcliffe in 1970 at Ft. Riley, Kansas. She lived in Kentucky, Georgia, Okinawa, Japan and Miami, Florida before moving to Lexington. Caroline was active in Scouting as a Girl Scout, a Girl Scout Troop Leader in Missouri, Okinawa, Georgia and Florida, a Cub Scout Leader and Boy Scout District Committee Chairman in Miami. She earned the Girl Scout Curved Bar and the Boy Scout Silver Beaver awards. While is Miami she worked in the Dade County Juvenile Justice System as a facilitator. Prior to retirement she was the Department Chair of the College Humanities Department at Wentworth Military Academy and College where she taught high school and junior college Spanish and was coach of the High School Academic Team. As an instructor at Wentworth she was recognized as the Instructor of the Year twice, received the Oliver Award for faculty dedication and professionalism, and the President's Award for Commitment. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Sam Ratcliffe of the home; sons LTC Robert and wife, Jennifer, of Fayetteville, NC, Deputy Sheriff John and wife, Jennifer, of Gardner, KS, Chief Warrant Officer 3 David of Savannah, GA; four grandchildren and her sister Martha Kellstrom of Manhattan, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Ward Copening and a grandson, Isaac Ratcliffe. A remembrance service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by: Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home, 1720 South St., Lexington, MO 64067 (660)259-2245