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Ronald Scott Rath, 55, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Monday, Sept. 27, 2010 at City Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Brown Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Barnes officiating. Interment will be held at Rosedale Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the funeral home.
Born July 24, 1955 in Arlington, Va., he was the son of Hugh J. Rath, of Johnson Lake and the late Dolores Kraigbaum Rath. Ron was a talented builder and designer with a keen creative perspective. His attention to detail yielded beautiful results in anything he made. Together, he and his loving wife designed and built their own home. Ron was also formerly employed by Corning Glass until it closed; previous to that, a partnership in an antenna business with his friend Michael Crothers.
Ron was an avid bowler and Nebraska Cornhusker's fan, cheering on his home team even after making West Virginia his final home state.
He enjoyed spending many hours with his daughters helping them with creative suggestions and "how to" to bring their school and 4-H projects to life. His thoughtful vision did not stop with his children; Ron's willingness to help family and friends remained constant.
Mr. Rath was a veteran of the U. S. Army during the Vietnam Era. He was a graduate of Lexington High School Class of 1973 and a graduate of Hagerstown Community College. He received an excellence award in mechanical engineering technology. He attended Bedington United Methodist Church.
In addition to his father, Hugh Rath, he is survived by his wife, Donna Jean Bowman Rath; two daughters, Mary Kathryn Rath and Brianna Marie Rath; two brothers, Stephen Rath, of Elwood, Michael Rath, of Wymore; two sisters, Deborah Smith, of Greencastle, Pa., and Beverly Dyke, of Kearney: an aunt, Barbara Ann Kraigbaum, of Falls Church, Va.; several nieces and nephews and his mother-in-law, Katherine Bowman. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to a local Humane Society or Bedington United Methodist Church Building Fund, 580 Bedington Road, Martinsburg, W.Va. 25404. Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.