Obituary (edited): Evansville Press, Evansville, IN, January 28, 1989. "Former City Council President, Rebecca 'Becky' Ratcliffe, Dies.
Former mayor Frank McDonald Sr. expressed sadness this morning when he learned of the death of former Evansville city council woman Rebecca Ratcliffe who died yesterday at the age of 77 at her home.
'She was a jewel,' said McDonald who served as mayor during the years Ratcliffe made her mark as a Democratic council member representing the second ward from 1959 to 1971.
Ratcliffe was the first woman to serve as city council president having served from 1963 to 1966.
'She was the kind of person who didn't just think about what was happening tomorrow, she wanted to know what would be happening next week and into the future as well. She always looked ahead,' McDonald said.
She left behind the legacy of a feisty officeholder who could, as the second woman ever elected to the City Council, hold her own among male politicians.
'She was this very genteel lady,' said McDonald. 'But she was extremely knowledgeable and tough. She didn't take anybody's word on anything till she checked it out. But you knew you could trust her. If Rebecca told you something you could bet your life on it.'
Ratcliffe, who was fondly called 'Becky' by constituents and politicians alike, was also known for her love the color green. She wore bright green classes and often wore a green tam-o-shanter.
Ratcliffe was defeated in her fourth bid for the City Council when she ran for an at-large seat in 1971, after wards were redistricted.
She had made the council her full-time job after her two sons had grown and were on their own. She was known for having walked every block of her district, which was diverse both in income and race. Ratcliffe often bucked the party line and once got in battle with other city councilmen who voted in 1965 to support keeping Evansville on Central Daylight Time instead of switching to Eastern Standard time to be in step with Indianapolis and most of the rest of the state.
By early 1966, the council voted to rescind that support after Ratcliffe led a community protest.
Ratcliffe was a graduate of Butler University and the Indianapolis General Hospital's School of Dietetics and had been an instructor in nutrition at St. Mary's School of Nursing.
She was also an active community volunteer, working with the League of Women Voters, the local American Cancer Society chapter, Planned Parenthood of Evansville and the Visiting Nurse Association.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. A. Wayne Ratcliffe, an Evansville pathologist and two sons, Dr. Allen W. Ratcliffe and Lawrence A. Ratcliffe. Also two sisters, Ione Settles of Green Valley, AZ and Avis Deer of San Bernadino, CA and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel. the Rev. Joseph Baus will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home."
Former mayor Frank McDonald Sr. expressed sadness this morning when he learned of the death of former Evansville city council woman Rebecca Ratcliffe who died yesterday at the age of 77 at her home.
'She was a jewel,' said McDonald who served as mayor during the years Ratcliffe made her mark as a Democratic council member representing the second ward from 1959 to 1971.
Ratcliffe was the first woman to serve as city council president having served from 1963 to 1966.
'She was the kind of person who didn't just think about what was happening tomorrow, she wanted to know what would be happening next week and into the future as well. She always looked ahead,' McDonald said.
She left behind the legacy of a feisty officeholder who could, as the second woman ever elected to the City Council, hold her own among male politicians.
'She was this very genteel lady,' said McDonald. 'But she was extremely knowledgeable and tough. She didn't take anybody's word on anything till she checked it out. But you knew you could trust her. If Rebecca told you something you could bet your life on it.'
Ratcliffe, who was fondly called 'Becky' by constituents and politicians alike, was also known for her love the color green. She wore bright green classes and often wore a green tam-o-shanter.
Ratcliffe was defeated in her fourth bid for the City Council when she ran for an at-large seat in 1971, after wards were redistricted.
She had made the council her full-time job after her two sons had grown and were on their own. She was known for having walked every block of her district, which was diverse both in income and race. Ratcliffe often bucked the party line and once got in battle with other city councilmen who voted in 1965 to support keeping Evansville on Central Daylight Time instead of switching to Eastern Standard time to be in step with Indianapolis and most of the rest of the state.
By early 1966, the council voted to rescind that support after Ratcliffe led a community protest.
Ratcliffe was a graduate of Butler University and the Indianapolis General Hospital's School of Dietetics and had been an instructor in nutrition at St. Mary's School of Nursing.
She was also an active community volunteer, working with the League of Women Voters, the local American Cancer Society chapter, Planned Parenthood of Evansville and the Visiting Nurse Association.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. A. Wayne Ratcliffe, an Evansville pathologist and two sons, Dr. Allen W. Ratcliffe and Lawrence A. Ratcliffe. Also two sisters, Ione Settles of Green Valley, AZ and Avis Deer of San Bernadino, CA and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel. the Rev. Joseph Baus will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home."
Obituary (edited): Evansville Press, Evansville, IN, January 28, 1989. "Former City Council President, Rebecca 'Becky' Ratcliffe, Dies.
Former mayor Frank McDonald Sr. expressed sadness this morning when he learned of the death of former Evansville city council woman Rebecca Ratcliffe who died yesterday at the age of 77 at her home.
'She was a jewel,' said McDonald who served as mayor during the years Ratcliffe made her mark as a Democratic council member representing the second ward from 1959 to 1971.
Ratcliffe was the first woman to serve as city council president having served from 1963 to 1966.
'She was the kind of person who didn't just think about what was happening tomorrow, she wanted to know what would be happening next week and into the future as well. She always looked ahead,' McDonald said.
She left behind the legacy of a feisty officeholder who could, as the second woman ever elected to the City Council, hold her own among male politicians.
'She was this very genteel lady,' said McDonald. 'But she was extremely knowledgeable and tough. She didn't take anybody's word on anything till she checked it out. But you knew you could trust her. If Rebecca told you something you could bet your life on it.'
Ratcliffe, who was fondly called 'Becky' by constituents and politicians alike, was also known for her love the color green. She wore bright green classes and often wore a green tam-o-shanter.
Ratcliffe was defeated in her fourth bid for the City Council when she ran for an at-large seat in 1971, after wards were redistricted.
She had made the council her full-time job after her two sons had grown and were on their own. She was known for having walked every block of her district, which was diverse both in income and race. Ratcliffe often bucked the party line and once got in battle with other city councilmen who voted in 1965 to support keeping Evansville on Central Daylight Time instead of switching to Eastern Standard time to be in step with Indianapolis and most of the rest of the state.
By early 1966, the council voted to rescind that support after Ratcliffe led a community protest.
Ratcliffe was a graduate of Butler University and the Indianapolis General Hospital's School of Dietetics and had been an instructor in nutrition at St. Mary's School of Nursing.
She was also an active community volunteer, working with the League of Women Voters, the local American Cancer Society chapter, Planned Parenthood of Evansville and the Visiting Nurse Association.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. A. Wayne Ratcliffe, an Evansville pathologist and two sons, Dr. Allen W. Ratcliffe and Lawrence A. Ratcliffe. Also two sisters, Ione Settles of Green Valley, AZ and Avis Deer of San Bernadino, CA and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel. the Rev. Joseph Baus will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home."
Former mayor Frank McDonald Sr. expressed sadness this morning when he learned of the death of former Evansville city council woman Rebecca Ratcliffe who died yesterday at the age of 77 at her home.
'She was a jewel,' said McDonald who served as mayor during the years Ratcliffe made her mark as a Democratic council member representing the second ward from 1959 to 1971.
Ratcliffe was the first woman to serve as city council president having served from 1963 to 1966.
'She was the kind of person who didn't just think about what was happening tomorrow, she wanted to know what would be happening next week and into the future as well. She always looked ahead,' McDonald said.
She left behind the legacy of a feisty officeholder who could, as the second woman ever elected to the City Council, hold her own among male politicians.
'She was this very genteel lady,' said McDonald. 'But she was extremely knowledgeable and tough. She didn't take anybody's word on anything till she checked it out. But you knew you could trust her. If Rebecca told you something you could bet your life on it.'
Ratcliffe, who was fondly called 'Becky' by constituents and politicians alike, was also known for her love the color green. She wore bright green classes and often wore a green tam-o-shanter.
Ratcliffe was defeated in her fourth bid for the City Council when she ran for an at-large seat in 1971, after wards were redistricted.
She had made the council her full-time job after her two sons had grown and were on their own. She was known for having walked every block of her district, which was diverse both in income and race. Ratcliffe often bucked the party line and once got in battle with other city councilmen who voted in 1965 to support keeping Evansville on Central Daylight Time instead of switching to Eastern Standard time to be in step with Indianapolis and most of the rest of the state.
By early 1966, the council voted to rescind that support after Ratcliffe led a community protest.
Ratcliffe was a graduate of Butler University and the Indianapolis General Hospital's School of Dietetics and had been an instructor in nutrition at St. Mary's School of Nursing.
She was also an active community volunteer, working with the League of Women Voters, the local American Cancer Society chapter, Planned Parenthood of Evansville and the Visiting Nurse Association.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. A. Wayne Ratcliffe, an Evansville pathologist and two sons, Dr. Allen W. Ratcliffe and Lawrence A. Ratcliffe. Also two sisters, Ione Settles of Green Valley, AZ and Avis Deer of San Bernadino, CA and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel. the Rev. Joseph Baus will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home."
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