This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: RATHFON Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ZaB.2ACE/1409 Message Board Post: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - March 19, 1994 JOHN L. RATHFON, OFFICER FOR YMCA, HEALTH FIRM John L. Rathfon, 71, a former vice president of the Central YMCA and of U.S. Health Care, died Wednesday at his home in Downingtown. Mr. Rathfon had lived in Roxborough for 30 years, until 1984. He was born in Bradford, Pa., one of 14 children, and was a 1940 graduate of Bradford High School. After serving in the Army during World War II, he attended Springfield College and graduated with honors in 1952. He was elected to the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. From 1952 to 1954 he served as associate director for the YMCA in Kentucky. In 1954 he became the youth director at the West Philadelphia Branch of YMCA. In 1958 he was the founding director of Roxborough's YMCA. Mr. Rathfon was director of the YMCA Central Branch, on Arch Street, from 1971 until 1976, when he became vice president and director of operations and personnel administration. He began working at HMO of Pennsylvania in 1978 and retired in 1983 as vice president of personnel. He formerly was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Wayland Memorial Baptist Church in West Philadelphia. He served as a Sunday school teacher, trustee, and deacon at Roxborough Baptist Church. He was a 15-year member of the board of managers and served a term as moderator at the Philadelphia Baptist Association. Mr. Rathfon was a member of the prayer committee for the 1992 Philadelphia Billy Graham Crusade. He was a member of many organizations, including the Philadelphia Rotary Club. He was a founding board member of Spring Garden Community Center and Health Center. Mr. Rathfon is survived by his wife, Louise Bentley Rathfon; son, Jeffrey J.; daughters, Joan L. Shank and Jean R. Chaya; two sisters; seven brothers, and seven grandchildren. A memorial celebration will be held at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at Olney Baptist Church, 239 W. Chew St.