Robert P. Rathbun Obituary (1936 - 2021)

Robert Paul Rathbun, age 85, a resident of Lowell since 1963, died on Christmas Day at Lowell General Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Shirley E. (Johnson) Rathbun with whom he married October 10, 1964 and enjoyed over 40 years of marriage before Shirleys passing. He was born in Boston on February 7, 1936 and was the second son of the late Paul M. and Edna A. (Milliken) Rathbun of Stoneham. Robert grew up in W. Medford. Robert graduated from the Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Class of 1955; Tufts University, Medford, class of 1959; Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Beverly Farms, 1962. He was born again the summer of 1955, and from then on, he sought to point people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He found great joy in studying and teaching the Bible. He pastored the Fifth Street Baptist Church of Lowell from Easter of 1963 till his retirement earlier this year. He taught Bible at the Burlington Bible Institute for a decade and at the Northeastern School of Theology and Missions for over a decade. He taught Bible and Chess at the Hadley School for the Blind, a correspondence School in Winnetka, Illinois for over a decade. He served as editor of the Gospel Messenger, a Braille monthly magazine published by the Gospel Association for the Blind in Bunnell, Florida. Rathbun also served for a time on the Board of Directors of the Lowell Association for the Blind, the Monadnock Bible Conference, the Gospel Association for the Blind, and the Northeastern School of Theology and Missions. He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Daniel M. and Carol A. (Nash) Rathbun of Hubbardston, and Gary A. Rathbun of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, Jonathan P. Rathbun and Rachel G. Rathbun of Hubbardston. He is also survived by one brother, Charles Rathbun of Woburn, several cousins and many nieces, nephews, church family and dear friends. A funeral home service will be held on Tuesday, January 4th at 10am at DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., DRACUT, Masks are required, and social distancing guidelines will be in place. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to; Fifth Street Baptist Church, 28 W 5th St, Lowell, MA 01850. Service Details Funeral Home Service When January 4, 2022 10:00am Location Dracut Funeral Home Address 2159 Lakeview Ave. Dracut, MA 01826