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Wayne Rathbun Obituary
Wayne was born Aug. 7, 1941, in New London, the son of the late Wayne E. Rathbun Sr. and Mary Jane (Beebe) Rathbun.
A 1959 graduate of New London High School, Wayne entered the U.S. Navy for four years. After the Navy, he was employed for 38 years as an outside machinist supervisor at Electric Boat. The many that worked with him could say he was a top mechanic and very good to work with.
Throughout his retirement, Wayne enjoyed working and maintaining his farm on Rathbun Road in Niantic. Wayne and his family moved to the farm in 1943, when he was two years of age.
He is survived by four daughters, Meloney Radicioni of Oakdale, Kelly Anne Rathbun of North Stonington, Jennifer Scotti of Waterford, and Sarah Rathbun of North Carolina; a brother, George Rathbun of Niantic; a sister, Amy Daniels of Monroe; and five grandchildren, Wayne Anthony Radicioni, Mazzy Jane Mickelson, William Mickelson, Joseph Scotti, and Sean Scotti.
He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Carrallee Jane Rathbun.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Center for Hospice Care Southeast Connecticut, 227 Dunham Road, Norwich, CT 06360.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.neilanfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Wayne Rathbun
Dawnia Parisek
March 20, 2019
Wayne it has been almost 6 years and it is so hard for us to believe you are really gone. We think of you always. love and miss you buddy
Andy and Dawn Parisek
Shrimpy
April 14, 2013
On behalf of my sisters and I, may we say thank you for all the kind memories. Our Dad was and is a one of a kind! Thank you for raising us right. Special thanks to our Mother, Beverly, we love you Mom. Sarah, you are also a good girl whom was also raised right. May Jesus and Mary take pity on our family and bless us with ongoing grace and peace. Amen.
April 1, 2013
thank you all for the great things that you have said about my father. He touched so many people with the things that he would do and say. He was very proud to have worked at E.B. for 40 years. He loved working at home on the farm. Thank you All
His Daughter
~Meloney
Frank & Carol Harda
April 1, 2013
Kelly,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family for your loss.
Joseph Church
March 29, 2013
The miles separated our families decades ago but Wayne would regularly call my father..and after he passed, he would telephone my mother the same...right up until about 2 weeks ago.
As a child, I can't forget him tooling-around in that bright red Austin-Healey. My most vivid recollection, though, is when he and Beverly visited me in the L-M Hospital shortly after I came out of a coma, having nearly died from meningitis as a child. They couldn't have been more than 18 years old at the time. That visit meant the world to me ....to this day and is just a snippet of how wonderful the entire Rathbun family always was to us.
Time has passed but know that there are those who remember the things from eons ago. My most sincere & deep condolences go out to the entire family.
DAWNIA LUMADUE-PARISEK
March 29, 2013
TO THE WHOLE RATHBUN FAMILY, IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO WORDS WHAT WAYNE MEANT TO MY HUSBAND AND I. HE WORKED WITH AND WAS A GREAT FRIEND TO MY HUSBAND ANDY AND HE WAS A GREAT FRIEND TO ME WHEN I JOINED "TABLE". AFTER RETIREMENT HE ALWAYS CHECKED IN TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE OKAY AND HE WILL BE SO MISSED BY THE WHOLE FAMILY. WAYNE...YOU WERE ONE OF A KIND MY FRIEND. SAVE US A SPOT FOR WHEN WE SEE YOU. LOVE AND GOD SPEED.
ANDY AND DAWN PARISEK
Albert & Frances Corey JR
March 29, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Thomas L Bentley
March 28, 2013
My Whole Hearted Sympathy to the Rathbun family. I knew and worked with Wayne at E.B. for many years as well as a neighbor just down the street. Wayne was truely a good man as everybody knows, he was always willing to lend a hand for anybody. God speed your journey Wayne. GOD BLESS. Tom Bentley;
Bob Gentile
March 28, 2013
Wayne came to me as a young lad. He worked with me and for me for many years. We loved those Engine rooms.
Very sorry that he left us so young.
Bob and Lee Craney
March 27, 2013
Wayne was a thoughtful and good friend to my husband Bob, calling regularly and checking on him. He will be missed by both my husband and myself, he was always so upbeat. Will definately miss his laughter. Please accept our sincere condolences.
Richard Muckle
March 26, 2013
To the Rathbun Family,
Wayne was one of a kind, always willing to help, never looking for credit well deserved. May God give you rest and peace.
Dick Muckle
Kevin Pratt
March 26, 2013
To the Rathbun Family,
It is with great sadness I learned of Wayne's passing.I enjoyed going to the farm and working on the Kubota. May God comfort You in this trying time.From Wayne's friend's at Kahn tractor.
Jan Schneider
March 26, 2013
To the entire Rathbun Family,
I am very sorry for your loss. I worked for Wayne, AKA "the Rattler", for many years. I have very fond memories of our times on the boats. He was a very good teacher, and he always treated his crew like we were family, (which we were, an EB family). I will always have a special place for him in my heart, so I pray that he is at peace and wish you all strength during this difficult time.
Steven Perkins
March 26, 2013
Loved Wayne to pieces. worked with him for many years. I lived in the pond cliff condos in frond of the farm for a few years. Wayne will be sadly missed. Ruth and Steven Perkins
Mike Adams
March 26, 2013
I'm deeply saddened to read about Wayne "THE RATTLER" Rathbun.I worked @ E.B. for 36 years as a Machinist,22 years for the Rattler and was the best years at E.B.We had our ups and downs,I would not have had it any other way.Wayne was the BEST boss I have worked for.
Just another shipbuilder Mike "THE" Diesel Adams
Patricia Sonnone
March 26, 2013
So very sorry to learn of the death of my neighbor,Wayne.
I visited his farm a few times and loved
looking at the turkeys and rooster.
May God grant you, Waynne,eternal rest,
peace and joy in his presence.
Will miss seeing the old black truck
"climbing" the steep Rathbun Road hill.
Bob Navin
March 26, 2013
We are all deeply saddened to read of Wayne's passing. “The Rattler” was a pleasure to work with at Electric Boat. Wayne was an original Outside Machinist. He was a hardworking and a hard playing Shipbuilder. Never afraid to get his hands dirty, he was loved by his crew.
Always willing to help in any way he could. Always a gentleman both admired and respected by all. Another Shipbuilder lost....
March 26, 2013
We live in the house that Wayne helped build on Rathbun Rd. He was such a sincere spirit. Whenever we were outside,he would come down to check in with us,and just was so fun to talk with. We will always think of him with a smile, because of the kindness he showed us, and the proud way he spoke of his children and grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and his many friends. Wayne was just a really special person,who will always be remembered and missed. The Davis Family
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