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John Rawlings Obituary
John Frazier RAWLINGS John Frazier Rawlings died February 18, 2011 serenely and with grace, exhibiting the strength of character and quiet confidence he exemplified throughout his life. Cancer got his body, but not his spirit. John is survived by his true love and partner of 50 years, Sally Meyer Rawlings, sons Doug (Kay) and Greg (Elizabeth), and grandchildren Wilson, Cameron, Elena and Johnathan. John and his brothers, Peter, Gerry and Dick, grew up in a US Air Force family with their father, Gen. E.W. Rawlings and mother Muriel. John was a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, where he and Sally met and married. He served in the Air Force before beginning his civilian career as a building contractor in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and later in Seattle, Washington. John loved the outdoors, especially boating and watching the weather change on Saratoga passage. His strong hands built and fixed homes for his family and many others, and recently turned to restoring classic VW vans. He was a skilled all around fixer and builder, a collector of good stories and good friends, a loyal and affectionate husband, father and grandfather, and a positive example and mentor to many. John is also survived by brothers Peter and Dick Rawlings, three Rawlings sisters-in law, brother-in-law Rick Meyer (Carol,) numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in Washington state, Hawaii, Virginia and New York as well as Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers, fellow boaters, builders and friends - all were family to him. We'll all miss him, but his memories surround us. John's family suggests gifts in his memory be made to Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. Find links at JohnRawlings.vpweb.com or that you find a young person to mentor. A celebration of John's life will be held on Monday, March 7 at 3:00p.m. at Golden Gardens Bathhouse north of Shilshole Marina.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Rawlings
5 Entries
Jeff Meyers
March 5, 2011
John and I pledged Beta together. I was the 1233rd Beta in the long history of the fraternity. John was 1234. It struck me then as it does now, that 1234 was a great number (and hard to forget). John also acquired another great hard-to-forget number that year, a striking Pi Phi named Sally Meyer. I can still picture them back then, a beautiful couple frolicking, laughing and holding hands as they skipped into the Beta house on a Saturday afternoon. I can’t ever recall either of them not smiling. John had many memorable accomplishments over the intervening decades, but none better than holding onto to Sally.
John and I roomed together at the Beta house for a year. Aside from an incident involving my toothbrush (he borrowed it), I don’t believe we ever had a cross word. But it wasn’t hard to get along with John. He was gregarious, gracious, unpretentious and the first person I knew in the sixties to have the term “mellow” applied to him.
During the spring of our junior year, John and I each ran for the office of fraternity Secretary. I thought I’d win because I was an English major and the brothers knew I could write complete sentences. John thought he’d win based on his good looks and the crates of free cereal his father sent to the house. And the winner was: Hank Dietz, who deserved to win because he was the smartest guy in our class. Such were the life lessons we learned at the Beta house.
Those days are long gone, of course. In fact, we’re as old to the present Betas as the class of 1917 was to us. Ouch! My memories, however, remain flash frozen in time, as crispy fresh as today’s reality, and John is right there alongside me, as always.
Jeanie & Bill Cramer
March 4, 2011
I can hear the Beta Bells chime in John's honor as I write this message! Indeed the obit does exemplify John's wonderful strength, courage and love of life. All of us who knew John and Sally at Miami University marveled at their undying love. We're proud to say we knew this decent man. His family and friends can be assured he is in a very safe place. He is truly at peace after a courageous fight. Jeanie and Bill Cramer MU class of 64. (Elgin IL)
March 4, 2011
I can hear the Beta Bells chime in John's honor as I write this message! Indeed the obit does exemplify John's wonderful strength, courage and love of life. All of us who knew John and Sally at Miami University marveled at their undying love. We're proud to say we knew this decent man. His family and friends can be assured he is in a very safe place. He is truly at peace after a courageous fight. Jeanie and Bill Cramer MU class of 64. (Elgin IL)
John and Sally in the San Juans 2010
Nancy Merson
March 4, 2011
Wonderful obit for a wonderful man! His courage in facing the dreaded disease of cancer was inspirational to all who knew him. His fellow "land cruisers" and boaters will remember him on each Green Lake walk
70th Birthday gathering
John Rawlings
March 2, 2011
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