Pottawatomie County Obituary
Garden Grove Cemetery

© Parks Brothers Funeral Home
Date unknown
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

JOHNNIE RUTH RATHBUN

20 Oct 1929 - 30 Mar 2017

Johnnie was born in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma to Vester and Lowsie Page on October 20, 1929. She married B. H. “Bud” Rathbun on September 27, 1957, in Preston ,Minnesota. They were married for over 42 years.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband B. H. “Bud” Rathbun; daughter , Nancy Diane Rathbun; parents, Vester and Lowsie Page; and sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Paul Allen. She is survived by grandson, John C. Butenschoen; niece, Debbie Hess and husband Terry; nephew, Paul “Butch” Allen and wife Karey; great nieces and husbands, Paula & Adam Monroe, Emlee & Kevin Lovett, Amanda & Chris Basden; great niece, Tori Allen; great nephews, Taylor Allen and Glenn Hess; great-great nieces and nephews, Trenton, Caleb, Gabe, Aiden, Austin, Chance, Jaxson, Mika, Tynlee, Trinity, Nancy, Kazen, and Clara Grace, many nieces and nephews from the Rathbun family & dear friends.

Johnnie attended school in Shawnee, OK and graduated from the Neffa Business College.

Johnnie was baptized at age 12 and was a long-time member of the Kingston United Methodist Church. She joined the Lighthouse Methodist Church in July of 2009. She sang in the church choir from 1987 until her declining health prevented her participation. Johnnie served on various church committees including as chairman of the Admin Counsel, Lay Leader Chairman, and chaired many church bazaars and craft fairs. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and worked with church charities such as Wesley’s Closet.

Johnnie retired from Tinker Air Force Base after 32 years of faithful service as a specialist.

In 1982 Johnnie and Bud moved from Harrah, OK to Buncombe Creek on Lake Texoma, where they raised their grandson John C. Butenschoen. While John attended Kingston High School Johnnie spent many hours volunteering various school activities, especially as a band booster. While John was in High School Band there was rarely a time that the band traveled that she and Janice Reese did not chaperone and support the band members. She touched many lives of the students of Kingston while John was in school and after. Many of these students were in regular contact with her up until her passing.

Upon retiring from the federal government Johnnie opened a Ceramic and Gift shop in 1985. She ran her business for over 20 years. She was an avid ceramicist and taught many ceramics classes, earned countless certifications and awards for her work. One of her proudest achievements was the creation of a technique for a southwest lamp that was published worldwide in ceramics publications and by the paint company.

In June of 2003 she moved from Buncombe Creek to Durant. While she lived in Durant she volunteered her time for many years as a Pink Lady at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma. She also volunteered her time to the Lutheran Church in Durant helping in the church’s soup kitchen. She also was an active member with the Shay Community Center.

Due to her health she moved to Frisco, TX to live with John so he could better care for her over the years of her life. Johnnie lived with John until February of 2017 when her advanced prognosis required her to enter into extended care at Prestonwood Rehabilitation and Nursing where she died on March 30, 2017.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 1:00 PM, at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague. Interment will follow at Garden Grove Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.