Ralph O. Rife

December 23, 1934 - January 21, 2013

Mr. Ralph O. Rife, age 78, and a resident of Culleoka, TN passed away Monday morning, January 21, 2013 at his residence.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 24th at 12 noon in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Bro. Rick Points officiating. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from 11am till the service hour at 12 noon. The Entombment will be at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Cedar Bluff, Virginia on Friday, January 25th at 3pm. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family and in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Rife was born in Paynesville, West Virginia, and the son of the late Luther Rife and Janie Thompson Rife. He retired from the McClouth Steel Company as a senior operator. He was married to the love of his life, Isabell Mitchell Rife for 40 years. Ralph loved to work on cars, building his own motorcycle in the 70’s. He also enjoyed boating, taking his boat out on Lake Erie and Lake Michigan often. He always had to be working on or fixing something. He was a man who loved the outdoors. Over all his talents and hobbies, he was known best for being a family man. He loved his family and had a very special love and humor between him and his grandson, Jimmy. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Mr. Rife left behind to cherish his memory a son, Steven Rife of Columbia, TN; Daughters: Kay Alexander of Columbia, TN, Kimberly Rife of Dayton, OH, Robin Lundy of Midland, MI, and Sandra (Stanley) Puckett of Bluefield, VA; Grandchildren: April (Joseph) Wiley of Gatlinburg, TN, Jimmy Elkins of Nashville, TN, Sabrina Elkins of Nashville, TN, Amanda Fox of Yuma, AZ, Rachael Rife of Lincoln Park, MI, Sandra Rife of Lincoln Park, MI, David Rife of Lincoln Park, MI, Jeffery Lundy of Midland, MI, Jamie (Jonathan) Price of Midland, MI, Courtney Puckett of Virginia Beach, VA, and Brandon Puckett of Bluefield, VA; 18 Great Grandchildren.

Along with his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son: Marvin Earl Rife, Grandson: James Elkins, Jr., Sister: JoAnn Horne, Brothers: Morris Mullins, Bill Mullins, Fred Rife, and Wayne Rife.

Honorary pallbearers will include Joseph Wiley, Jimmy Elkins, Steven Elkins, Gregory Wiley, Amanda Fox, and Nathan Kelly.

The family request that memorials be made to the American Lung Association: 1 Vantage Way, Nashville, TN 37228.

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