John David Rathbun

John David Rathbun passed away on November 23, 2025 after a long illness. John was preceded in death by his parents, John Burrows Rathbun and Madeline Agnes (Collins) Rathbun and his son, James Joseph Rathbun.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Melina Catherine (Cordaro) Rathbun of Martinez, GA and daughter Kathleen Marie Riley (husband Peter James Riley) of Mechanicsburg, PA.

John was born in Connecticut on October 22, 1953 where he spent his childhood. He loved his dog, baseball, trucks, and trains. His love of transportation began as a child when his father would take him to the rail yard to watch the trains drive by and expanded to an affinity for all forms of transportation.

John received a Bachelor’s of Science in Travel and Transportation from Niagara University in 1975. He started his career in Transportation working on loading docks, and he later became a trucking dispatcher. Over the course of his career, John developed deep expertise in transportation and logistics, becoming a valued authority whose knowledge and integrity were widely respected.

His last job prior to retirement was Regional Transportation Manager at Gerdau Steel, an Internation steel company based in Tampa, FL and San Palo, Brazil. Over 48 years John worked at various large manufacturing facilities. He utilized various aspects of technology, excellent negotiating skills, and team building to bring cost savings and process improvement to Arco Metals, Logan Aluminum, Alcoa Aluminum, Alumax, Solo Cup Corporation, American Can Corporation, and various others.

After retirement John moved to Martinez, GA. He will be remembered as a kind, gentle man, loving father and husband, loved and valued by all who knew him. His passion for transportation was his life and his love.

A funeral mass will be held 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 12 at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church at 1420 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA. Visitation is from 10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the narthex of the church.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), and Southeast Hospice, 3736 Executive Center Drive, Martinez, GA.

The family would like to thank the staff of Southeast Hospice for their constant support and friendship during this difficult time and the staff at Camellia Walk of Evans for their kind and loving care of John during his illness.