September 28, 1924 – October 25, 2019
Alvin J. Ratzlaff ’54 was born in Reeves, Georgia, on Sept. 28, 1924, and died Oct. 25, 2019. He practiced psychiatry for 40 years, up until within two weeks of his death.
Dr. Ratzlaff was married to Carol Joy Warnecke for 71 years, and they had three children, John Mark Ratzlaff, Judith Jo Sykes, and Penelope Anne Wortman, all of Asheville, North Carolina. They also had four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Long past the traditional retirement age, Dr. Ratzlaff continued to practice psychiatry (most recently at the Union Mental Health Center in Union, South Carolina). Until shortly before his death, he and Carol happily interspersed work with continuing education and worldwide travel. Dr. Ratzlaff’s sudden death came as a shock to his patients, as well as to his loved ones, who confidently await a heavenly reunion.
(Source: Family of Dr. Ratzlaff)
