PEARL M. RATHBUN

1932 - 2022

Pearl M. Rathbun, age 89, passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022. She was born August 20, 1932, in Glen Ellyn, IL, to Louis and Amy (nee Gathman) Rathbun. One of six children, Pearl was born on the Rathbun Dairy farm into a Christian home and at age seven, recognizing her sin and need for a Savior, Pearl trusted in Jesus Christ for her eternal salvation. Soon afterwards she dedicated her life to full-time Christian service. Along with her family, she joined Glen Ellyn Bible Church, which later sent her out as a missionary. Pearl graduated Glenbard Township High School in 1950 and Bryan University in 1956. A gifted musician, Pearl was a pianist and Sunday school teacher in a small mountain church in Tennessee and traveled with a gospel quartet as accompanist for seven months. Concerned about those globally who had never heard the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, she was obedient to God's call to go to South Korea as a missionary with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) in 1958. During her 39 years of ministry there, Pearl ministered at TEAM's HLKX radio station, now operated by Far East Broadcasting Company - Korea, a ministry which broadcasts in Korean, Chinese, Mongolian, English, and Russian. As Director of Music and later Director of English Programming, she frequently played piano and organ and used her radio voice on the air. She accompanied many choirs and discipled Korean young people through both Korean and English Bible studies. Eager to build up Christian youth in worship music, she published a Youth Folk Hymnal. Despite not pursuing worldly accolades, Pearl was named in the 1967 edition of Outstanding Young Women of America. Retiring in Carol Stream, IL, she was an active volunteer locally for Outreach Community Ministries, Walk-in Ministries, and played piano at Beacon Hill Senior Living Community. Although Pearl never married or had children of her own, her nieces and nephews and their children treasure her gracious and generous lifestyle, her witty sense of humor, and above all her godly example of a faithful follower of Christ. Indeed, her spiritual legacy resonates around the globe. She is survived by her sisters, Judith Somerville and Virginia O'Brien; her sister-in-law, Joyce Rathbun and brother-in-law, Eugene Taylor; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Raymond Rathbun, Lois Taylor and John Rathbun; and sister-in-law, Margaret Rathbun and brother-in-law, Lloyd Somerville. A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Glen Ellyn Bible Church, 501 Hillside Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, where a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. with a luncheon following. Private interment will be held at Chapel Hill Gardens in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Memorial gifts may be directed either to Far East Broadcasting Company - Korea, 15700 E. Imperial Hwy., La Mirada, CA 90638 or to TEAM - Korea, PO Box 1683, Carol Stream, IL 60132. Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.