Donald C. Rathbun, 85, of Hope, RI, passed away on Sunday, January
30 th at RI Hospital in Providence. He was married to the love of his life,
Mary (O’Neill) Rathbun. They had been married for 58 wonderful
years.
Born in Providence, he was raised by his grandmother, Dorothy
DeRoche. He lived in Scituate for 11 years and had previously lived in
West Warwick. He was a US Air Force veteran. He had been a Police
Officer with the Providence Police Force, before retiring in 1970. While
on the Providence Police Force, he attended Roger Williams College and
received an Associate Degree. After retiring from the police force he
was a real estate broker for many years.
Donald loved spending summers at the Buttonwoods Campground and
recently at Roy Carpenter’s Beach.
Besides his wife he leaves his children, Susan Rerick and her husband
Kirk of Hope, Mark Rathbun and his wife Patricia of Warwick and
Alayna Berek and her husband Patrick of Scituate. He was the
grandfather of Kaylie Rathbun, Logan Berek , Abeigh Berek, Erin
McLaughlin and Matthew McLaughlin. He also leaves his great
granddaughter, Kadyn Gabelmann. He was preceded in death by his
grandson Jacob Rathbun.
Interment with military honors will be private at the RI Veterans
Cemetery, Exeter at a later date. Visitation respectfully omitted. In lieu
of flowers donations toward a scholarship in his memory may be made
to RCBA (Roy Carpenter’s Beach Assoc), P.O. Box 358, Wakefield, RI
02880; please reference his name in the memo.