Delores S. Ratcliff

Delores Sorenson Ratcliff was born in Minnesota and lived the majority of her 83 years in Virginia. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Friday, November 14, 2025. She is preceded in death by her husband, Millard E. Ratcliff, father Oscar Sorenson and mother Elsie Rahn Sorenson. She is survived by her daughters, Juanita Dawn Thomas & Tina Marie Ratcliff; and her brother, Charlie A. Sorenson.

Delores (Dee) loved shopping, especially Christmas shopping on Black Friday where she skillfully plotted to get to the best bargains! For most of her life she was a voracious reader and enjoyed sewing, beginning by making her daughters’ clothing and multiple outfits including their formal attire all the way to her last project - a wedding dress. Later she passionately picked up quilting, did a lot of “ front porch sitting” and became known as the “woman with a thousand owls”. And she would never turn down a good martini with lots of olives!

The family will receive friends for a Celebration of Life on this Black Friday, November 28th at her home in Roanoke. This will be an Open House beginning at 11:30am and the family requests you bring your best or most favorite “Dee story” to share and leave with an owl (or owls) of your choosing. Interment will be at a later date (TBD) at Arlington National Cemetery to be joined with her husband in their final resting place.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your local food pantry, Local Office on Aging at LOA.org, Meals on Wheels or the like, in honor of Delores so others can eat.

Heartfelt gratitude goes out to Star City Rehab & Nursing in Roanoke for the amazing care, knowledge and therapy extended to Miss Delores. The family is extremely grateful to her personal caregivers, recent and past: Stacey, Loretta, Jimalea, Linda, Joyce, Susan, Meredith and Sarah. THANK YOU to all these exceptional angels!!