Jack Sherrill Rathbun

Jack was born April 14, 1937 in Glasco, Kansas to the late David B. and Opal Rathbun. He grew up in Hackett, Arkansas.

Jack served his country in the U.S.M.C.R. He married the love of his life, Sandra (Remer) Rathbun in 1960. He had a surfboard company in Ventura, California for many years and was also a substation operator for the So. Calif. Edison Co. Jack and his family moved to Fort Smith in 1977. He was employed by Moll Tool and Plastics/Moll Industries for 26 years as a metrologist in the quality lab.

Jack was an avid hunter, fisherman, gardener and beekeeper. He was a quiet man, and often said that he never learned a thing when he was talking! He had gathered a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about so many subjects and taught his family and friends many unforgettable lessons about life.

He was a member of Rye Hill Baptist Church and served His Lord faithfully in all he did. Jack was a man of great integrity and a mighty man of God. He leaves his family a lasting legacy of love and respect.

Jack is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Sandy Rathbun; a son, Rob Rathbun of Greenwood; two daughters, Sherri Blalock (Adam) of Fort Smith and Kristin Waldron (Craig) of Katy, TX; four grandchildren, Emily Lodes (Tedd) and Evan Blalock both of Fort Smith and Hayden and Camden Waldron both of Katy, TX; one great grandson, Ian Lodes; sister, Rita Staton of Mansfield and two brothers, David L. Rathbun of Hackett and Loren Rathbun of Stigler, OK.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Rye Hill Baptist Church with burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Hackett under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Friday from 1 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends form 6 – 8 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Rob Rathbun, Adam Blalock, Evan Blalock, Tedd Lodes, Craig Waldron, David (Mike) Rathbun, John Rathbun, John Staton and James Tatum. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack’s Tuesday Morning Men’s Prayer Group, “Prayer Matters” and his men’s Sunday School Class.

Jack’s family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses and receptionists at Cooper Clinic Oncology at Hembree Cancer Center and a special thank you to Julie Simpson and Peachtree Hospice for their compassionate care of our precious Jack.

Memorials may be made to Rye Hill Baptist Church, 11512 Old Hwy. 71 So., Fort Smith, AR 72916.

“Grieve not for me, nor weep beside my empty chair, if you could but know my portion here, you would not, could not wish me there.”