Howard Rathbun

Howard M. Rathbun, 82, of Loveland, passed away peacefully at home, on Thursday, October 23, 2014. He was born in East Orange, New Jersey to Dorothy and Herbert Rathbun. He spent 4 years at George School, a private Quaker high school in Newtown, Pennsylvania, majoring in science. One of the highlights was participating in a student/teacher exchange program in Dusseldorf, Germany for a seven-week summer work camp. In 1955, he graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Engineering Physics. He was the third generation in his family to attend Cornell. He was in ROTC, and upon graduation, was commissioned in the Navy. He served for two years aboard the USS Worcester. He met his future wife while ice-skating with friends. In 1961 Turid and Howard were married in her hometown of Oslo, Norway. They began their life together in Summit, New Jersey, where their two children were born. His first job was with Monroe Calculators, where he worked on the design of their first computer. He received several patents for his work in computer science. In 1969 he joined Hewlett Packard, and was assigned to their Oslo, Norway office. They lived with Turid's parents for three years, allowing their two children to get to know their Norwegian relatives, the language and the culture. In 1972 they moved to Loveland, where he continued working for HP until he retired in 1991. Howard was an avid stamp collector from an early age and later was very involved in genealogy and computer programming. He was a very talented woodworker, making many pieces of furniture for his family, and many toys for his children and grandchildren. He was always fascinated with ships and he enjoyed making intricate models. Music was also a very important part of his life. He loved playing the piano, attending concerts, symphonies and the opera. Howard was a member of Loveland Stamp Club, Sons of Norway, Loveland Civic Music Association, Loveland Music Guild, Opera Colorado Board, and Loveland Rotary Club and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow. He belonged to a machinist and metal working club and enjoyed making model steam engines. Howard and Turid enjoyed traveling, especially with family and friends; skiing from their cabin in Dillon; visiting their parents' cabins in Raquette Lake, NY and Hemsedal, Norway; working on many summer musicals with good friends in the Music Guild; and attending operas, symphonies and theater. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Turid, his daughter Ingrid Brummet and husband Dwight of Loveland, his son Paul Rathbun and wife Robin of Bothell, Washington; his three grandchildren, Jonathan Brummet of Daegu, South Korea, Thomas Brummet of Boulder, Colorado and Sydney Brummet of Bellingham, Washington; his brother David Rathbun and wife Patience of Pennsylvania, his uncle Lewis Rathbun and wife Elizabeth of N. Carolina, his aunt, Mildred Parmelee of New York state, his brother- in- law Jon Christian Lasse Andresen of Norway and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held on Friday, October 31, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 2500 N. Garfield in Loveland. Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain View Presbyterian Church, Loveland Rotary Club Foundation or House of Neighborly Services.