Frank Rathbone

Waynesville-Frank Charles Rathbone, age 88, of Monte Vista Drive, died Saturday, March 3, 2007, at the Solace Center in Asheville. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and the son of the late Charles M. and Annie McElroy Rathbone and also preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Holder, a brother, Joe Rathbone and infant brother, Robert Dee Rathbone. He was a licensed electrical contractor and worked at Rogers Electric Company, then at Champion Paper for 24 years retiring in 1983. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Waynesville and served in the United States Army during World War II in New Guinea and Japan. Frank enjoyed Ham Radios, working around the home and working on automobiles for friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise Messer Rathbone; two daughters, Peggy Buchanan and her husband, Perry and Carole Smith and her husband, Terry, one son, Stan Rathbone and his wife, Shirley, all of Waynesville; two sisters, Mable Justice of Florida and Doris Rollman of Waynesville, two brothers, Ralph Rathbone of Florida and Iven Rathbone of Texas; five granddaughters, Tammy Hines, Angela Rathbone, Kim Bowen, Kristy Thompson and Amy Messer and eight great-grandchildren. The family would also like to thank his special caregivers, Marie Sutton, Celia Ledford, Katrena Messer and Doris Russell. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2007 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Robert E. Boggan, Jr. and Reverend Dr. Robert Prince officiating. Burial will follow in Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Terry Smith, Perry Buchanan, Kevin Bowen, Greg Thompson, Keith Messer and Stacey Hines. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Jon, Larry and Keith Rathbone, Marshall Holder, Charlie Justice, Jeff and Jim Messer. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home and at other times, at the home. Memorials may be made to Care Partners Hospice, John F. Keever Solace Center, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 Wells Funeral Homes of Waynesville is in charge of arrangements. For those who desire, an on-line memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at "www.wellsfuneralhome.com"

Previous Events