Robert David “Jack” Rathbun, 83, a long-time resident of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022, at the River Garden Hebrew Home in Jacksonville.
Jack was born on June 14th, 1938, in Bloomington, Illinois, the adopted son of Elmer Rathbun and
Lucille Tourner Rathbun. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the beginning of the Vietnam
War when he was seventeen years old. He took extreme pride in his twenty years of military
service and always looked back on his time as a sailor with fondness. After retiring from the Navy,
he worked as a sheet metal mechanic until he officially retired at the age of 65. Later in life, Jack
was overjoyed to connect with members of his biological family and thoroughly enjoyed the time
he was able to spend with them.
Jack had an incredible sense of humor, was a passionate LSU tiger fan and loved spending time
with his family. He had a lifelong passion for photography, taking thousands of photos through
the years and even developed his own film. He was an avid collector of Lionel model trains, a
master leather craftsman and was considered by many as a “Jack of all trades”; he could make
or fix just about anything. Jack was a long-time member of The Rock Church in Jacksonville and
possessed a deep knowledge of scripture and love for God.
Jack will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his family and friends as a proud patriotic
American and the kindest and most generous of men, never meeting a stranger and always ready
with a joke to tell.
Jack is survived by four (4) sons, Blane (Melinda) Rathbun, Dwayne Michael Rathbun of Houston,
Texas, Kevin (Deanna) Rathbun and Chester (Kristen) Rathbun of Palm Coast, Florida; eight (8)
grandchildren, Peyton Rathbun, Karissa (Benjamin) Meehan, Jacob Rathbun, Kayla (Benjamin)
Katsion, Patrick Rathbun, Keith Rathbun, Stuart Rathbun and Colby Rathbun; one (1) great
grandchild, Audrey Katsion; one (1) sister, Betty Rathbun of Morgan City, Louisiana; and many
nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved sister, Martha Francis “Fran” Blum; and
the love of his life and mother of his children, Loretta Petachi.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at Fraser Funeral Home,
8168 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida, with Reverend Anthony Cohron officiating. The family
will receive guests one hour prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow at the Jacksonville
National Cemetery with full military honors.
Leave a Condolence