James Walter Rathkey, 97

July 04, 2018

James Walter Rathkey, of Lititz, died peacefully on July 4, 2018. Born on June 15, 1921, he was the son of the late Walter C. and Anna Mimnall Rathkey. He was happily married for 61 years to the late Elsie Spinner Rathkey who died in 2011.
During World War II, Jim served as a teletype operator with the 4th Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps in Debden, England. Most of his working life involved garage door sales and service with The Overhead Door Company.
Jim was a Penn State football fan and enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting and being in the woods. In his later years, Jim wrote poetry expressing both inspiration and humor.
Jim was predeceased by a son, David James, a brother, Richard M., and sisters, Anna Marie Hart and Gladys Mae Eckman. He is survived by his sister Shirley Wagner and by his daughters Linda R. Stine (Gerald) and Diane R. Good (Gregory). He is also survived by grandchildren Emily S. Maisto and Zachary E. Stine, and by great grandchildren Caroline Sophia Maisto, Elena James Maisto, and James Elias Stine.
Friends and family are invited to visit on Friday, July 13, 2018 in the Community Room at Luther Acres, 200 St. Luke Dr., Lititz, PA from 10-11AM , with the funeral service to follow at 11AM. Interment will be in Machpelah Cemetery, Lititz. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 200 W. Orange St., Lititz, PA 17543.