Blanche "Winnie" Rathbun

Blanche -Winnie- Rathbun, (Gehres, Becher) age 85, formerly of Henritze Ave, Cleveland, passed away October 23, 2024 after a brief stay at North Park Care Center. Born on December 15, 1938 in Franklin County, Ohio, she is preceded in death by her parents, Harold Joseph and Ina T. Gehres, sisters Hope Johnson and Judith Doner, brothers Gene, David, Phillip and Robert, and her husband Gary G. Rathbun. She is survived by her daughter, Noelle Muscatello, grandsons Corey, Marcus and Victor, of the Cleveland area, and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Winnie graduated from Lancaster High School, received her teaching degree from Otterbein College, and completed course work at several other colleges in Ohio and Michigan. She was very proud of the summers she spent at Universite' Laval, Quebec, perfecting her French. She began her teaching career teaching French to Junior High students, first at Bay Village Jr High then in Lancaster at Thomas Ewing. She and her family returned to the Cleveland area where she taught at several Lutheran Elementary schools, then taught adult education for 13 years. She finished out her career as principal of St Mark Lutheran School for 6 ½ years.
Winnie attended Unity Lutheran church where she taught Sunday School for many years. She enjoyed traveling, making beaded rosaries and jewelry and other crafts, watching the Browns play football, and celebrating St Patrick's Day with her Irish friends.
Pastor Pirn will lead a memorial service at Unity Lutheran Church November 1st at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has chosen for donation the Seeds of Literacy, an organization that offers free education and tutoring to adults. 3104 W. 25th St., Cleveland. www.seedsofliteracy.org.
The family gives thanks to North Park Assisted Living for their love and kindness and making her feel welcomed, and to North Park Care Center and Heartland Hospice for their special care and patience these last few weeks.