Rachel F. Remsburg

Rachel F. Remsburg

Rachel Flitcraft Holeton Remsburg died peacefully in her own bed on September 2, 2004 with three of her children present, a few weeks before her 92nd birthday.

The youngest of four children, Rachel was born September 26, 1912 and attended school in Woodstown (Salem Co.), New Jersey where she enjoyed sports, dancing and socializing. She particularly loved amateur theater, and she was a co-founder of Woodstown’s Curtain Call Club. Rachel lived her first 38 years in Woodstown, marrying Robert Eugene Holeton in 1934. Together they raised five children.

Rachel and Bob were relocated by DuPont to Maplewood (Essex Co.), NJ in 1950 and then transferred to Bellevue, Washington in 1954. Robert Holeton passed away in 1962. Rachel then worked as a medical secretary and as a clerk for Boeing, singing with Sweet Adelines in her spare time.

Rachel married Charles Remsburg in 1971 and moved to Stuart (Martin Co.), Florida, where they enjoyed retirement together playing golf and bridge. In Florida Rachel became an expert shell collector and amassed a sizeable collection. She spent over 10,000 hours volunteering at Martin Memorial Hospital in addition to volunteer work for Martin County Library, the House of Refuge, Historical Society, and local adult illiteracy prisoner reading programs. Her own reading was eclectic and widespread, reflecting her curiosity and enthusiasm for life.

Wherever she lived, in New Jersey, Florida, and Washington State, Rachel was an active participant in Friends (Quakers) chapters and meetings. Her family and many close friends remember Rachel above all as a shining and powerful example of humankind’s most positive traits, someone with an uncanny ability to bring out the best in everyone she encountered. She had an always-unassuming but profound effect on others, leaving ripples of goodwill in her wake wherever she went. Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and that is how she lived her life every day.

Rachel is survived by her children Marjorie H. Weaver (Naples, FL), Carol H. Collins (Long Beach, CA), Roberta R. Ethelston (Llangollen, Wales, United Kingdom), Robert E. Holeton, Jr. (Sammamish, WA), and Richard A. Holeton (Montara, CA); 9 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on September 26, 2004 at The Golf Club at Newcastle, 15500 Six Penny Lane, Newcastle, WA 98059. Friends who wish to attend should RSVP to Bert Holeton at 425.868.0407. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Hospice of Fort Myers, 2790 Crown Lake Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL, 34135, or to a local hospice organization.