Richard K. “Dick” Rathmell was a mere 98 years young when he joined his wife, Jean, in heaven on Feb. 12, 2023. He died peacefully after having a stroke two days earlier.

While Dick spent the last few years of his life with daughters in North and South Carolina, he considered Lexington home. Dick was active in a number of organizations in Lexington including the Rockbridge Historical Society, Grace Episcopal Church (R. E. Lee), Rotary, Hospice, and the “Tuesday Lunch Bunch.” He often disappeared during the winter to snow ski in Winter Park, Colo., with his last winter of skiing being at age 95!

Dick served as an engineer on a liberty ship during World War II carrying ammunition to the fronts. A chemical engineer by profession, Dick worked for many years for DuPont and later for Waste Management before retiring and settling in the Lexington area.

Dick was born in upstate New York on Jan. 4, 1925, to the late James K. Rathmell and Rachel Pomeroy Rathmell. He spent his formative years living outside of Wilmington, Del., and daughter Dorie still lives in that family homestead.

He is survived by his and Jean’s six children, Dick Jr., Diane, Debbie, Dariel, Donna and Dorie; their spouses; 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Many from this area know Dick’s grandson, Dr. Steven Woodard, and his wife, Kelli, and their three young children. 

At an undetermined time, some of Dick’s ashes will be interred with Jean’s at Grace Episcopal Church as well as at his family home in Delaware and near the ski slope in Colorado. No flowers or donations needed.