John R. "Robbie" Raftliff, Jr., 65, of 49 Cantrell Drive, Fayetteville, WV, passed away Friday, February 19, 2016 at home following a long illness.

Born March 18, 1950, in Hinton, WV, he was the son of the late John R. Ratliff, Sr. and Betty Lee Myles Ratliff.

As a father, brother, uncle and friend, he had many struggles but he truly loved all his family, friends, country and the river. In his later years his generosity to family and friends in need, always superceded his own needs

He served in the military with the United States Air Force as a jet engine mechanic and served his country during time of war with his tour in Vietnam.

Robbie rode the C&O Railroad to support his family for many years.

His love of the river led him as an early pioneer guide on the whitewater of our area's New and Gauley River Gorge runs. He worked for many years with Hinton and Glen Jean based New River Scenic Adventures and spent his last years telling the tales on the front porch of his family's river company, Cantrell Ultimate Rafting in Fayetteville. Robbie was a member of the team of guides that led the National and WV State Park and Forest Service staff on the Greenbrier River Wild and Scenic River Study in the 1970's before the National Park designations in the area were determined.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Betty Ratliff, his brother Richard Alan Ratliff, his grandparents Basil and Tina Ratliff, Mildred "Millie" Faini and William "Bill" Myles and his beloved aunts Loucille Ratliff, Virginia "Tootie" Hellems and Billie Brownell, his uncles Robert T. "Chuck" Smith and Donald "Crow" Hellems, his dear cousins Robin Smith Blankenship and Sheila Hellems Kuziak.

Survivors include a son, John Robert Ratliff, III of Hinton, a daughter, Chastity Ratliff Goodman of Hinton, his sister, Nancy Ratliff Stover of Fayetteville, a brother in heart, Richard Cantrell of Fayetteville, three grandchildren, Anthony and Ashley Goodman and Haley Renee Ratliff, his niece and dear friend, Jessica Stover of Fayetteville, two nephews, Jason Stover of Hinton and Dr. Garrett Stover of Morgantown, his Uncles and Aunts, Tom and Regina Keadle of Hernando, Florida and Billy and Katie Myles of Beckley, cousins Vicky Smith Stone of Beckley and Laura Jane Smith Allen of Memphis, TN, Kelli Myles Austin of Fort Worth, TX and Allison Myles Venable of Beckley, Betty Brownell Taranto of New Berlin, NY, and Linda Brownell Sherman of NY, Tommy Jo Hellems of Summersville, SC, Gary Hellems of Clarksdale, AZ, Joann Hellems of Summersville, SC and Robert "Bob" Kuziak of Charleston, SC.

His service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday February 26, 2016 at Pivont Funeral Chapel, Hinton, with his nephew, Jason Stover officiating. Burial will follow at Restwood Memorial Gardens, Hinton, WV.

Pallbearers are Adam Cantrell, Mark Cales, Matthew "Shaggy" Smith, Scott Gilger, Ben Monast, Dave Adkins and Scotty George. Honorary Pallbearer, Pat Smith.

Friends may call from 12:00 p.m. until time of services on Friday at the funeral home.