Charles Rathbun

Ed Rathbun was born in the family home in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska to Lee and Ethel Rathbun, the eldest of their four children. He attended schools in Belgrade, Nebraska and graduated in 1937. Soon afterward, He moved to Portland, OR and found work there. Before long he moved to Bremerton and was hired at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He left his job there in 1944 to join the Navy. Following his discharge in 1946, he returned to PSNS. After retiring in 1974 he worked for Lentz and later for Todd Shipyard and Seattle Western Industry.  Ed was married briefly while in the Navy and then again in 1948. He has a step-daughter Linda and a son Ken from his second marriage. He married a third time and he and his wife Gladythe “Bonnie” had, in addition to step-sons Marc and Brian, a daughter, Jana.   He moved his family from Bremerton to homes in East Bremerton, then Belfair and then on Mission Lake. He and Bonnie were together 48 years until she preceeded him in death in 2006. Ed and Bonnie’s combined family included 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He is survived by sister Norma (Rathbun) Ritterbush and brother Howard Rathbun both of CA; children Jana Rathbun (Bob Hanley), Brian Fretwell (Marina), Marc Fretwell (Dorene), Ken Rathbun (Sylvia) and Linda Johnson (Arlen).  Memorial Service will be Saturday, October 9th at 2:30 pm at Rill’s Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard.