Marvin Paul Rathbone

Marvin Paul Rathbone, 84, of 1027 Country Club Road, Elberton, husband of 62 years to Patricia Dawkins Rathbone, passed away Friday, August 10, 2012, at Spring Valley Health Care Center. Mr. Rathbone was born in Atlanta, Fulton County, February 2, 1928, to the late Paul B. and Jessie Davis Rathbone. He was retired from the City of Elberton as a Warehouse Manager. He was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Elberton where he worked in the youth group for many years and was a member of the Victory Sunday School Class. Mr. Rathbone was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed camping with friends in the Dixie Drifters Camping Club. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Marvin and Patsy's only daughter, Deborah Ann Rathbone Clary, preceded him in death in 1983. Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Patricia Dawkins "Patsy" Rathbone, whom he married December 25, 1949; son-in-law, Charles Clary and his wife, Grace of Anderson, South Carolina; two grandsons and their wives, Charles Kevin and Allison Clary of Irmo, South Carolina and Brandon Paul and Fran Clary of Edgefield, South Carolina; three great-grandchildren, Huiet Ann Clary, Ella Grace Clary, and Chase Ingram Clary; sister-in-law, Frankie Dawkins Cofer of Elberton; nieces that were like grandchildren, Cindy and Tim Rogers and Dixie and Ken Watkins; nephews, Jimmy Blackmon and George Bond, Jr.; and niece, Michelle Bond. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 3PM Sunday, August 12, in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Purvis officiating. Interment will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery. Members of the Victory Sunday School Class are asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. The family is at the residence, 1027 Country Club Road, and will receive friends at Berry Funeral Home from 6-8PM Saturday evening. Mrs. Rathbone respectfully request flowers be omitted. Donations may be made in his honor to the Friends Helping Friends Club at Elbert County Comprehensive High School, ATT Sandy D. Adams, 600 Abernathy Circle, Elberton, Georgia 30635, make checks payable to Dewy Rose Baptist Church or to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenneesee 38105. Share your stories and photos in Mr. Rathbone's Book of Memories at www.berryfh.com. Berry Funeral Home & Crematory, Elberton, is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Marvin Paul Rathbone.