James Walker Ratchford

1993 - 2023

James Walker Ratchford
June 8, 1993 - June 29, 2023
Charlotte, North Carolina - Beloved first-born son, brother, fiancé, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend passed away unexpectedly on June 29, 2023. Walker enjoyed the love of a strong network within his family, which grew to include his fiancé, Katie, and her family. Walker had a quiet strength about him and was a consistent, dependable and loving presence among all those he knew. Gentle Ben was a name given Walker by one of his elementary teachers, as these qualities of restrained strength were evidenced early in his life. Walker was a deep thinker and processor. He loved his family well, as he honored his parents, and enjoyed a special strong camaraderie with his brothers Si and AJ.
Walker attended Sharon Elementary, AG Middle School, Myers Park High School for 9th grade and was a 2011 graduate of Providence Day School where he played basketball. He went on to excel academically in college after attending Vanderbilt University and graduating summa cum laude from UNC Charlotte. He worked in Capital Markets at Regions Bank where he was Vice President of Leveraged Finance. Walker enjoyed the contributions he could make at work and the people he worked with. Walker grew up attending Westminster Presbyterian Church, where his faith was nurtured by a community who loved and supported him in numerous ways all his life.
Walker had a great love of life, which included travel, reading, fly-fishing and sports, most of which he enjoyed with his beloved fiancé, Katie. Golf was his passion, and he played every chance he had. It was a sport he enjoyed immensely with his father, brothers and friends. He and Katie also spent time training for marathons and working out together. The two were an amazing match for each other, a relationship which God brought together. Walker and Katie were due to be married on Nov. 4th of this year. Their loving relationship also included Baxter, their dog, who Walker and Katie both loved like a son.
Walker is survived by his parents, Jim and Denise Ratchford, brothers, Si and AJ Ratchford, fiancé, Katie Zwetolitz, and her family - Joe, Janet, Julia and Will Zwetolitz, grandparents, David and Joan Jolliffe and Jim Ratchford, Jr. and Lee Ratchford, uncles, Stephen Ratchford, Al Schelthoff, and Foy Smathers and Aunts Debra Schelthoff and Ruthie Smathers, cousins, Sam, William, Pete, John and Anne Ratchford, Molly (Datie) and Sarah Smathers, and Zach (Katie) Schelthoff and Chase (Hannah) Schelthoff.
A service to celebrate the life of Walker Ratchford will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 7, 2023 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow at the church. The memorial service will be live streamed at. https://youtube.com/live/gRiMejhfazM?feature=share
Burial will be private.
Memorials may be made to First Tee , https://www.firstteegreatercharlotte.org/
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.