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- Cranston, RI - Helen M. (Rathbun) Rathbun, who died Wednesday, August 28, 2019, was the wife of the late Edward B. Rathbun. She was 105.
Born in Cranston on May 9, 1914 to Ernest C. and Eola M. (King) Rathbun, she is survived by her three daughters: Ella May Lamoureux (James) of Dayville, CT, Mary E. Champlin (Rollo) of Coventry and Dorothy E. Hutchins of West Greenwich. She was the beloved grandmother of Suzanne M., James E. Jr. & John Lamoureux, Cheryl McCulley, Cynthia Durkin, Susan Pimental & Sherry Champlin, Lisa Pontbriand, Lori Gouveia & Linda Hutchins and of her eighteen great grandchildren: Kathryn & Caroline Oskar, Andrew & Olivia Lamoureux, Erin & Lauren McCulley, Nathaniel, Jacob & Jared Pimental, Matthew & Zachary Durkin, Adrianna, Aubrey & Ava Carsetti, Kailey, Kelsey & Kyle Gouveia and Jamison Carlson. She was predeceased by her brother Arnold C. Rathbun whose wife Carol lives in Cranston.
A lifelong resident of Cranston, she grew up on Oaklawn Avenue in Meshanticut. She graduated from the Meshanticut School, Cranston High School Class of 1932 and the former Edgewood Secretarial School. She worked as a school secretary for the Cranston School Department for 37 years retiring in 1981 as Attendance Department Clerk in the School Department's main office. She was a past president of the Cranston Municipal Retirees Association and a volunteer for over 30 years at the Cranston Senior Center.
Following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents, Helen joined the Oaklawn Grange in 1933. One year later she was elected to serve as Lecturer. Helen met her future husband at a Grange square dance and they were later married at Oaklawn Community Baptist Church in Cranston. Throughout their marriage, Edward and Helen were very active in the life of the Oaklawn Grange. After Edward served as master from 1952-1953, Helen succeeded him serving as master from 1953-1955.
Throughout her lifetime, Helen served numerous terms as master and lecturer. As Chairman of the Women’s Activities Committee, she was instrumental in raising funds to support the Grange. In 2014, at the age of 100, Helen was still attending meetings and serving as its piano player. She was also a member of the Providence County Pomona Grange; the Rhode Island State Grange & the National Grange.
A direct descendant of Roger Williams, she belonged to the Roger Williams Family Association. She was a founder of the Rathbun Family Association of Rhode Island & Vicinity. She also belonged to West Warwick Chapter #2210 of AARP, Inc.
A devout Christian, she was a member, for 90 years, of the Oaklawn Community Baptist Church. A member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, she served as the organist at Norwood Baptist Church in Warwick for over 50 years. She previously was the organist for four years at the former Second Presbyterian Church, Cranston and for ten years at the former St. Philips Episcopal Church in West Warwick.
Helen loved the color purple and her collection of over 500 pianos. She enjoyed sewing and crafting handmade sequined calendars annually for her entire family.
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1914 - 2019 (105 years)
