Helen E. Beecher Rathbun, 95, of Upper Turnpike Road, Whitehall, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 29, 2009, following a short illness.
Born on July 27, 1913 in Granville, she was the daughter of the late William L and Mary Catherine (Whittington) Beecher.
She enjoyed crocheting and gardening and feeding and watching the birds and her cats.
She was a member of the North Granville United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women’s Group.
Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her husband of 51 years, George E. Rathbun, one brother, Leslie Beecher and one sister, Dorothy Hoblock.
She is survived by two sons, Leslie A. Rathbun and his wife, Kathleen of Victory Mills, N.Y., and Donald G. Rathbun and his wife, Roberta of Goleta, Calif.; two daughters, Shirley M. Rathbun of Whitehall and Dorothy L. Rathbun of Hartford; five grandsons, one granddaughter, two great grandsons and two great grand daughters and several nieces and nephews; and a brother, Lawrence Beecher of West Pawlet, Vt.
A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams Street, Whitehall. Interment will follow in North Granville Cemetery.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 1 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Helen’s name to the North Granville Methodist Church, Route 22, Granville, New York or a charity of one’s choice.
