Lynn James Ratcliff

Lynn James Ratcliff, 78, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2019 after a 14-year battle with brain cancer with his wife and daughter by his side.  Lynn was born on September 4, 1940 in San Antonio, Texas where he spent his childhood before attending Texas A&M University.  There he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and earned a BS in Civil Engineering, and later earned a Master of Civil Engineering at the University of Houston.  While at A&M, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army.

Lynn married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Carol Kosub, in 1962 and they remained happily married for 57 years.  Lynn started his 50-year engineering career serving in the US Army Corps of Engineers, 17th Engineer Battalion. Beginning in 1976 and for the next 20 years, he served as owner and President of McBride-Ratcliff and Associates, Houston, Texas.  He provided geotechnical services for the design of high-rise buildings, airport infrastructure, roadways, transit systems, tunneling projects, and residential and commercial development in Houston and surrounding areas.  Some of the highlights of his career include geotechnical consulting on Houston City Hall, Reliant Stadium Bridges, Hardy Toll Road, George Bush International Airport Terminal C, stages of the Galleria and downtown Houston tunnels and flood control.  In retirement, Lynn served as a Forensic Consultant and expert witness on geotechnical issues until 2017.  He loved being an engineer, talking about structures, concrete, soil and foundations never regretting his career choice. The happiest moments of his life were spent with family and longtime friends, laughing, drinking his special recipe old fashioneds, and travelling the world.

Lynn is survived by his wife, Carol and daughter, Melissa Bandy and her husband, Philip of Falls Church, Va; grandson Jack, and Jeffrey (deceased). Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Lynn’s life on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from two o’clock until five o’clock at Bradshaw-Carter Memorial & Funeral Services, 1734 W. Alabama Street in Houston. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support the Jeffrey Bandy Memorial Music Program stewarded by the Falls Church Education Foundation.  Lynn’s grandson Jeffrey passed away in February, and a fund was established to continue music therapy programs for special needs children in Falls Church City schools. Checks, payable to FCEF, may be mailed to the Falls Church Education Foundation, 150 S Washington Street, Suite 400, Falls Church VA 22046 or online www.fcedf.org, choose “donate now” button on the bottom right.