WOODBURY – Clifton A. Rathburn Jr., 89, of Woodbury, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died on November 13. He was born on June 23, 1934, in Woodbury, the son of the late Clifton A. Rathburn Sr. and Irene (Coates) Rathburn.
He was educated in the Woodbury public school system and went on to become an independent truck driver, hauling logs for several years, and owning his own business. In 1964, a tragic accident took his left hand and arm, but he never wavered and continued to drive trucks with a CDL license until he retired at 84 years old. He was a hardworking, self-reliant, practical man, who was a role model to his children.
He married the love of his life, Ruth Cookson, on October 16, 1953, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage this year. He enjoyed snowmobile riding, hunting, Jeeping, and stock car races. He loved his cat Mitsy, and his horse, Brandy, who lives with his close friends, Keeno and Jeanette of Coventry.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Cookson) Rathburn, their three children, Ronald Rathburn of Woodbury, Sherry Rathburn of Ponte Verda Beach, Fla., and Cindy (Rathburn) Wemette (David) of New Haven; five grandchildren, Cliff Rathburn (Sonya), Brent Rathburn, Adam Mokhtare, Jill Leduc (Lance), Curt Wemette (Amanda); seven great-grandchildren, Lydia Rathburn, Devon Rathburn, Jackson and Bode Leduc, and Abbey, James, and Josh Wemette.
He was predeceased by his father, mother, and three of his siblings, infant brother Danny Rathburn, Delma King, and Thelma Corey and her three children.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, November 25, at the Northern Vermont Funeral Home, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick. A gathering of family and friends will immediately follow the service at the American Legion Post No. 7 in Hardwick.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Mayo Healthcare, 71 Richardson Street, Northfield, Vt. 05663.
We would like to thank Mayo Healthcare for taking such good care of him for the last week of his life.
Arrangements are in the care of Dian R. Holcomb of Northern Vermont Funeral Service, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick. Online condolences are welcomed at northernvermontfuneralservice.com
