William Marion Rathbun

William Marion Rathbun, 77, of Glencoe, Oklahoma passed from this life at his home on Sunday, March 24, 2013. He was born to John Rathbun and Jessie Buttram Rathbun in Glencoe on May 20, 1935. He graduated from Glencoe High School in 1953, and attended college at Oklahoma State University graduating in 1958 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. He then worked many years for the United States Department of Agriculture in the cotton division. This took him to Dallas Texas to work where he met Elizabeth Kauffman and shortly after they met they were married on June 12, 1965. After a few years in Texas he decided to come back to Oklahoma with his new wife, and in September of 1970 they took over the grocery store in Glencoe which became Rathbun’s Grocery. Along with owning and running the grocery store he had a working cattle farm. Rathbun’s Grocery closed in 1988 and farming being true to his roots took over. He loved Glencoe and was always striving to make it better. William was the Glencoe Fire Department Chief for several years before retiring, he also served on the Town Board for numerous years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Glencoe, and the Morning Lions Club in Stillwater. In his last years still enjoying his farm, he took on an adventure of building and remodeling houses. He loved being able to put the work into them learning how to make them look beautiful. He was always doing anything he could to help people out, even if it was playing Santa for the children in the community. William loved spending time with the family fishing and working on the farm. He loved taking his dog Beau for walks through the pasture. William is survived by: Wife of 47 years:Elizabeth Rathbun, Glencoe, Oklahoma 2 Children:Darrell Rathbun & his wife, Sue, Glencoe, Oklahoma Cheryl Haney & her husband, Ray, Dunlap, Tennessee 4 Grandchildren:Melisa Johnston, Glencoe, Oklahoma Keith Winsett, Perry, Oklahoma Brandon Winsett & his wife, Dennise, Mutual, Oklahoma Ray Davison, & his wife, Tara, Agra, Oklahoma 16 Great Grandchildren Plus a number of other relatives, and many friends. William was preceded in death by his parents, John and Jessie Rathbun, and sister, Sue Shahan & her husband, John. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 A. M. at Glencoe United Methodist Church, Glencoe, Oklahoma on Friday, March 29, 2013 with Rev. Ralph Wangler and Allen Mitchell officiating.