Melvin Ratcliff, 87, of Lynnville, died on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM on Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and his family will receive friends from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Memorials may be designated to Lynnville-Sully Youth Sports to benefit girls softball and boys baseball programs, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Melvin's family online at www.smithfh.com. Melvin Leo Ratcliff was born the son of Harold Rayford Ratcliff and Charlotte Mildred (Groves) Ratcliff on September 24, 1933 at the family home near Lynnville, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm near Lynnville and graduated from Lynnville High School in 1952. He honorably served in the United States Army from 1955 until 1957. Melvin was united in marriage to Marcile Wisgerhof on September 13, 1957 at the Sully Community Church in Sully, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Cindy and Bonita. They lived in Greenfield and Sully before making their home in Lynnville. Melvin was employed by the Iowa State Patrol from 1957 – 1958 and then worked at the Farm and Home Store in Lynnville, Sully Plumbing and Heating, and Sully Telephone. In 1969 he started Ratcliff Electric and owned and operated the business for over 30 years. Melvin's family was his everything. He enjoyed having his family live close by and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, and enjoying the tranquility and family time at their acreage. He was a longtime youth softball coach in Lynnville and played fastpitch softball for over 30 years. He will be remembered as a family man, as a talented wood carver, and as a fun-loving prankster. Melvin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marcile Ratcliff of Lynnville; two daughters, Cindy (Ron Reynolds) Arkema of Killduff, and Bonnie (Steven) Hofer of Lynnville; grandchildren, Christa (Shaun) VanderWeerdt, Anthony Arkema, Jerri (Trevor) Nikkel, Joshua Hofer, Jamie (Randi Visser) Hofer; and great grandchildren, Chloe and Reagan VanderWeerdt, Bella and Lillian Nikkel, and Owsley Hofer. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Trina (DePenning) Ratcliff; brother, Rayford (Eleanora) Ratcliff; sisters, Neva (Earl) Klyn, Vera (Gerald) Beason, Alice (Lloyd) Sparks, Velma (Floyd) Sparks, and Doris (Clair) Fenner; brother-in-law, Stan Schrag; and nephews, Larry Sparks and Tim Schrag.