David Harrison Rathbun, 71, of Pawling, NY passed away in his home on August 9, 2018, surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Highland Park, Michigan, in 1947, to Mary Elizabeth Rathbun and Donald Harrison Rathbun.
David grew up in Columbus, Ohio, along with his sisters, Margaret and Susan. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Capital University, and his Master’s degree in English at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
David married Marla Holland in June 1971. They spent 2 years in the Peace Corps in Ecuador. He played clarinet in a number of chamber music groups and in the Quito National Symphony, and taught English at the Catholic University.
He moved to Pawling, NY, in 1977, where he lived and began his family. He worked for many years at Pawling Properties Associates, for the Ziff family. There he discovered his life-long passion for landscape architecture. He managed and helped design exquisite native plant gardens in New York, Florida, and Colorado.
David loved the outdoors. He never tired of the natural beauty of Pawling and was a member of the Oblong Land Conservancy association. As his health declined he still enjoyed daily trips down Quaker hill, along the farm fields, to downtown Pawling. He hiked, camped, and skied avidly.
Later in his life, David lived in Florida, Martha’s Vineyard, and Sonoma, California. He moved back to Pawling in 2017, where he married Tania Dainson in the spring of 2018.
His family includes his wife, Tania Dainson, his sons, Adam, Ben and Josh, his granddaughter Nora, his sister, Margaret Ann Graham, his sister Susan Neal, who preceded him in death, his nieces, Meghan Rempe, Jennifer Neal-Bardavid, Miranda Krysty, his nephew Ryan Merrill, and his four-legged friend Max.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 14, at 11 am, at Christ Church, 17 Church Road, Pawling, NY 12564.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the David H. Rathbun Music Scholarship Fund, at 42 Church Road, Pawling, NY 12564.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Horn & Thomes, Inc. Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY.
