Donna Jean Rathbun

Donna Rathbun, 89 joined her husband Robert Rathbun with their Lord and Savior on October 13th 2021. She was born on March 21, 1932 in Guthrie OK and raised by Boone B. and Iva Mae Jacobs in Wellington KS. Donna graduated from Wellington H.S. with lettering in music. She played the violin.

After high school, Donna was attending a Baptist Church swimming function in Sedan Kansas where she met her future husband Robert Rathbun. They married March 18th 1951 and set up housekeeping in Bob's home town of Sedan. Ranch/farm life and a very small town was not to Donna’s liking so when a Boeing position opened in Wichita, KS to Haysville they went. There they started their family; 2 boys and 2 girls. A few years later and they were off to Springfield MA for a year. Robert's job at Boeing kept them moving and back to Kansas they went and the town of Wellington. Everett WA was their last relocation. They had been married 56 years before Bob preceded her in death.

For many years Donna was a homemaker. Raising 4 children and their activities kept her busy. She was a Blue Bird leader and involved in church. As her family grew up she became a nurses aide and worked in several care homes. Switching occupations, she went to Jan Sport and became a seamstress. Donna returned to helping others and became a home health care provider. She ended her working years as a child sitter for some of her grands.

Donna loved people. Her family and friends were always in her heart and mind. She was very fond of her neighbors and sewing group friends. Lucy her caretaker has a special place in all our hearts, as do her neighbors, Michelle, Jeff and Dave and her good friend, Barb. Traveling with her husband was a favorite and playing games, except he always won. She loved to sew and created beautiful embroidery items which she shared with many. Gardening and reading were also hobbies.

Preceding Donna in death were her husband, Robert Rathbun, her parents, 7 siblings, son in law Ted Irish, daughter in law Judi Rathbun, nieces Carolyn Ward and Rebecca Lombard.

She is survived by her children, Jim (Connie) Rathbun of Spokane WA; Janet Irish of Everett WA; Phillip Rathbun of Mill Creek WA and Jo (John) Shively of Nampa ID; brother in law and sister in law Harold and Alice Rathbun of Bellevue WA, 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Also surviving is Marolyn Arsenault a sister like niece and many other nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, Everett WA Monday, October 25th 2021 at 10:00a.m. Private Burial at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-FH.com for the Rathbun family.