Tuesday, September 28, 2021 was a very dark day for the family of Lanta “Lantie” Deward Radcliff with his passing from Covid, after being so careful not to contract it.
Herbert Radcliff and Hester Ann (Neal) Radcliff were proud to welcome Lanta into their small family on October 6, 1928, making him 92 at his passing. His family grew to have 10 children including him. Passing before him was Grover, Argil, Arnold (Sam), Warren (Bob), Eulah Mae, and Liza Mae. Two brothers- Jay Radcliff and Gary Radcliff and one sister Marie Sprouse remain.
He served our country in the Army entering on February 20, 1951. He was stationed state side with the 167th Infantry in Fort Lewis, WA and Fort Jackson, SC being discharged on March 10, 1953.
Lanta met, fell in love, and married his lifelong partner Mildred Louise (Smarr) Radcliff April 5, 1953 who survives. With that union they had two children, Dickie Edward Radcliff and Helen Louise Newman. Their family continued growing with 5 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews; he loved them all.
He, like the rest of us, had different jobs in his life but finally got on with Pennzoil where he spent 34 years of “hard” labor meaning most of his career was the sweat of the brow working, none of the machinery workers have today. After retirement he went on to do the same on his farm. The only machinery he used was a gravely tractor that he used to work his several plots for gardens and to mow his lawn. He just finished his last harvest this year. He didn’t have a riding mower until his son gave him one. He also had his chain saw he used to cut, split (wood splitter) and haul uncountable loads of wood to customers in Doddridge, Gilmer, and Lewis County over the years. He also raised and sold Christmas trees for several years. He loved to fish for his muskies, having a few favorite “holes” to fish in, and he also enjoyed his yearly deer and turkey hunt.
Above all he was a “Godly” man. His church was his sanctuary. He held many different roles in his “home” church, Mount Earnest Methodist on Rt. 18 in Gilmer County. It broke his heart when the doors of his church were closed because of Covid, but they were able to open its doors for a short while and he got to go back to the place he loved before the doors were shut again. You could count on him being at church and preaching on Sundays and Bible study every Wednesday, hardly ever missing either. He tried anything to get the youth involved in any aspect of the church from Bible school to youth meetings. He loved the ice cream socials and picnics, anything to do or help his house of worship. He would have a picnic and fishing at the pond on his property about every summer. All the kids knew and loved “Lantie Radcliff.”
Family and friends will be received on Monday, October 4, 2021 at the Mount Earnest United Methodist Church in Troy, WV from 12-1pm with the funeral service beginning at 1pm from the church chapel with Pastors Carl Radcliff and Peter Dietze officiating. Interment will follow services at the Hiney Cemetery in Linn, WV with full military honors. Masks must be worn per request of the family at the church and cemetery. The family requests no flowers due to allergies/asthma with family members, instead to make donations to: Mt. Earnest Church c/o Jeanie Matheny 8358 WV Highway 18 Troy, WV 26443 (make checks payable to the church). Online condolences and life stories in memory of Lanta may be expressed at hardmanfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Hardman Family Funeral Home of Weston considers it an honor and privilege to serve the family of Lanta “Lantie” Deward Radcliff.