Alvin quot;Shortyquot; Rafferty
Alvin ldquo;Shortyrdquo; Rafferty, owner of Campbellsville Laundry since 1947, died Friday, June 26, 2009, at the age of 94. Son of the late Frank Rafferty and Nora Dabney Rafferty, he was born January 6, 1915, in Taylor County, Kentucky.
He was a veteran of World War II having served his country honorably in the United States Army Air Corps with Chuck Yeager and the 357 fighter group known as The Yoxford Boys. On January 14, 1945 the group destroyed fifty-six enemy aircraft, establishing an air combat record. He was involved in the following battles and campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, Ardennes and Air Offensive Europe. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon with 6 bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and World War II Victory Medal and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He professed faith in Christ and was a member of the ElkHorn United Methodist Church.
He united in marriage to Elizabeth Phillips June 2, 1941. She preceded him in death September 25, 2005.
He was a sixty-five year member of the ElkHorn Masonic Lodge #568 F amp; AM and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Pitman Lodge #157, The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Until recent years he was an avid fisherman with numerous large catches of bass and muskie.
He is survived by two daughters, Dr. Faye (Tuddy) Howell, and Pat Mings of Campbellsville; five grandchildren: Cheri (Michael) Parke, Nikki (Darrin) Price and Dustin Mings of Campbellsville, Robbie Beard of Texas, and Jeremy (Nelly) Hogan of Florida; four great-grandchildren: Amanda Hughes, Amber (Tyler) Gray, Kristan Beard and Lanigan Price of Campbellsville; one great-great-grandson, Laityn Gray of Campbellsville; one brother and two sisters: Carl (Anna) Rafferty of Taylor, Michigan, Sylvia Goins of Williamsburg, Kentucky and Wilba Davis of Louisville; a sister-in-law, Clara Lee Raffety of Campbellsville; a special friend, Larry Taul of Mt. Sterling; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Donald Rafferty, M.D. September 21, 1995 and three brothers: Murrell ldquo;Peterdquo; Raffety, Arvil Rafferty and Wallace ldquo;Chetrdquo;Rafferty.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at the Parrott amp;
Ramsey Funeral Home in Campbellsville by Rev. Gene Shields
BURIAL: ElkHorn Cemetery with full military honors by the Marion County
Veterans Honor Guard
PALLBEARERS :
Don Antle
Robbie Beard
Jeremy Hogan
Wesley Hunt
Bill Karstetter
Dustin Mings
John Rucker
Larry Taul
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY ARE REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO THE ELKHORN CEMETERY AND MAY BE MADE AT THE PARROTT amp; RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME.
