RUSSELL — Marvin L. Ratts,  91, died March 5, 2016, at Main Street Manor of Russell. He was born May 31, 1924, in Atlanta, Kansas, the son of Lawrence and Mary (Williams) Ratts. He attended a rural school before moving to Yates Center, where he graduated from high school in 1942.
He joined the U.S. Army in early 1942 and served in Europe during World War II with the 101st Airborne Division. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Army in early January of 1946 and returned to Kansas State University, graduating with a degree in geology.
He married Dorothy Gallup on June 6, 1950. He was employed by Dowell Inc. and worked in the oil and gas fields in Hugoton, Ulysses and Great Bend before moving to Russell in 1952. He began working for Shields Oil Producers in September 1956 as a geologist/engineer and retired in March 1996 after 40 years.
Mr. Ratts was a member of the First Christian Church until the church closed. Then, he attended the Trinity United Methodist Church the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 67 years with advanced degrees at Great Bend. He was also a 54-year member of Isis Shrine, and a 40-year member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He was a Life Member of the Russell Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6240 and the American Legion Post 99. In April 2011, he was inducted into the Oil and Gas Hall of Fame in Great Bend.
He is survived by his daughter Patricia Whisenand, daughter Glennis Wylie, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his sister Martha Amyx and brother Bill Ratts. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy on March 20, 2005; and by a son-in-law, Keith.
Celebration of Marvin’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 11, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery where the Russell VFW. Post No. 6240 Honor Guard will conduct Military Rites. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. A memorial has been established with Russell Regional Hospital. Contributions and condolences may be sent in care of the mortuary.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler
610 N. Maple
Russell, KS 67665
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 8, 2016