Ratnasabapathy “Ratna”

Vivekananthan

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IN LOVING MEMORY

Ratnasabapathy “Ratna” Vivekananthan

Apr 11 1932 - Nov 11 2019

Retired Wing Commander Ratnasabapathy (Ratna) Vivekananthan, 87, of Prosper, Texas, passed away on Monday, November 11, 2019 at Plano Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas.

Ratna was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka on April 11, 1932, and son of late Mr. Ratnasabapathy Saravanahmuthu and Kanagasounthari Ratnasabapathy. 

Ratna was blissfully married to Subadradevi (Subramanium) Vivekananthan (Tellipalai) and celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in 2018. He graduated from Royal Ceylon Air Force Staff College in Andover, England. He was the first batch of Sri Lankans under the British rule to join the Royal Ceylon Air Force, and trained subsequent Sri Lankan pilots. During his service, he was a Commanding Officer for many Squadrons and the Commanding Officer of the China Bay Air Force Base during insurgent times. He also commanded the Sri Lankan Volunteer Base during his many leadership positions. After a successful career in the Sri Lankan Air Force, he retired in 1976. Afterwards, he started his own travel agency within a year, and then had the opportunity to be an Executive Pilot for a Sri Lankan based construction company in Ibadan, Nigeria until 1983. With continued conflict in Sri Lanka, Ratna decided not to return and immigrated to the United States to set up American roots for his family.

In addition to his wife, Ratna is survived by his daughter, Sarla Shanthakumar and husband, Sittampallam, son, Ramesh Vivekananthan and wife, Mrinalini, and son, Arunesh Vivekananthan and wife, Gaithri; two siblings, Ramanathan Ratnasabapathy and Squadron Leader Mahendran Ratnasabapathy; grandchildren Prashan Shanthakumar DDS, MS, Akshara Vivekananthan MS, Harshan Shanthakumar JD, Savita Shanthakumar, Aneeshwar Vivekananthan, Darshan Vivekananthan, Vishnoo Vivekananthan, Ashwin Vivekananthan, and Nishan Vivekananthan.

He was preceded in death by Dr. Thirunavukarasu Ratnasabapathy, Squadron Leader; Manoharan Ratnasabapathy; Pathmanathan Ratnasabapathy, and their only youngest sister Mrs. Susheela Shanmugalingam.

A funeral service will be held beginning at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 17, 2019 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.  The family will receive friends during a visitation on Saturday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

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