Robert Chester Rankin

1922 - 2016

Robert Chester Rankin, 94, of 605 Spring Hill Drive, Waynesboro, PA passed away, Sunday, November 6, 2016 in his home. He had been bravely battling cancer since April 2016.
Born in Mountville, PA on May 1, 1922 to Chester A. and Amanda G. Rankin, he was next to the youngest child with five brothers and five sisters all preceding him in death.
Robert graduated from West Lampeter Township High School in 1941 and then enlisted in the US Army serving in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. After the war he attended and graduated from Millersville State Teachers College in 1950 with a BS in Mathematics. He attended New York University and later Michigan State University where he graduated with a Master's Degree in Highway Safety and Driver Education.
He was married for almost 60 years to the late Barbara Ann (Stevens) Rankin and lived in Waynesboro most of his adult life.
Robert first taught math in 1951 at Lititz High School, Lititz, PA before accepting a position to teach Driver Education at Waynesboro High school where he taught for 33 years until his retirement in 1984. Besides teaching he also served as the Business Manager for the High School Yearbook for 27 years. He was very active in state and national safety education organizations where he held leadership positions and in 1973 received the PA Governors' Award for Traffic Safety. From 1972-78 he served as a consultant for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
He was very active in the community as a member of the Waynesboro Presbyterian Church and B.P.O. Elks Lodge #731. He was also a member of American Legion Post #15, VFW#695, both of Waynesboro and served on the Civil Service Commission. He enjoyed woodworking and photography.
Surviving Robert are his five sons; Robert K. Rankin and his wife Sarah of Timonium, MD, Jon C. Rankin and his wife Kendra of Middletown, PA, Joseph K. Rankin of Waynesboro, PA, Todd B. Rankin and his wife Rey of Waynesboro, PA and Richard E. Rankin and his wife Beth of Frederick, MD; grandson Kyle A. Rankin and his wife Ashley of York, PA and their four boys Bryce, Landon, Kobe and Dylan; granddaughter Holly B. Gassert and her husband Charlie of Mount Wolf, PA and their daughter Addison and son Tyler; granddaughters Hannah Rankin and Cara Rankin of Frederick, MD and grandson Joseph Rankin of Dover, NH; granddaughter Bailey Rankin of Frederick, MD, granddaughter Sarah Kunze of Waynesboro, PA, granddaughter Rachel Foutz and her husband Chuck, of Hope Mills, NC and their 2 daughters Callie & Addison; granddaughter Hannah Geerlings and grandson Kent Geerlings of Frederick, MD and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, November 19, 2016 in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro with Pastor Joel Nogle officiating. Burial will follow in Burns Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro, where military graveside honors will be conducted by the honor guard of Charles Nitterhouse V.F.W. Post #1599, Chambersburg.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Friday evening, November 18, 2016, in the funeral home
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Robert's name to the Waynesboro Area Gala Cancer Auction, P.O. Box 244, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
Online condolences may be expressed at: www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com