RATH, Ruben A. 1892-1956

RATH, WALKER, MILLER, HALL

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/16/2013 at 23:51:12

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Wednesday, February 15, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa]

R. A. RATH DIES; FUNERAL FRIDAY

Ruben A. Rath, 63, chairman of the board of the Rath Packing Co. and nationally known industrialist, died at 10 p. m. Tuesday at his home, 214 Highland Blvd.

Mr. Rath had suffered with a heart ailment and his activities had been somewhat restricted for the last five years. He had a severe heart attack last Dec. 22 and was hospitalized until about two weeks ago when he was removed to his home.

Funeral services will be at 3 p. m. Friday in Christ Episcopal Church with Rev. Charles J. Gunnell, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. The body is at the O'Keefe & Towne funeral home.The family requests friends to omit flowers.

Mr. Rath was born in Waterloo Sept. 16, 1892, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward I. Rath. His father was one of the founders of the Rath Packing Co.

Mr. Rath attended the old Holland School from 1897 to 1901, the old Hawthorn School from 1901 to 1905 and graduated from East High School in 1909. Following his graduation he worked as a bookkeeper at the old Commercial National Band from 1909 to 1911, after which he enrolled in Iowa State College.

He attended Iowa State for three years, leaving school in 1914 to go to work in the sales department of the packing company. In 1917 he was elected a director of the company and was named sales manager, later being promoted, in 1926, to director
of sales, a position which he held until 1944. In 1926 he was also elected second vice president and held that office until 1930 when he was elected secretary. In 1934 was named a vice president of the company, an office he held until 1943, when he was elected president. In 1950 he moved up to chairman of the board and remained in that position until the time of his death.

Mr. Rath was a member of the board of the American Meat Institute, and its vice chairman and also was chairman of the institute's committee on advertising and public relations. He was also a member of the board of the Iowa Manufacturers Association, Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., was on the board of trustees of the Equitable Life Insurance Co. of Iowa and was a former member of the board of the National Association Manufacturers.

In Waterloo he was chairman of the Waterloo Airport Commission and was local chairman of the Naval Reserve Advisory Council.

He was an ardent golfer and was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of organized ball in Waterloo, serving for years on the board of Waterloo Baseball Inc. He was a member of the Cyclone Club, Rotary, Sunnyside Country Club, Waterloo Elks Lodge 290, Theta Delta Ch fraternity, the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau, YMCA and Navy League.

Mr. Rath is survived by his wife, the former Neva Walker whom he married in Waterloo June 29, 1918; a son. Richard W. Rath, 602 Prospect Blvd two daughters, Mrs. Richard L Miller, 210 W. Ivanhoe Rd., and Mrs. Richard L. Hall, Harlingen Tex.; his mother, Mrs. Edward F. Rath, 406 Independence Ave., a sister, Ruth E. Rath, 52 Campbell Ave., a brother, George E. Rath, 300 Sheridan Rd., and eight grandchildren

His father died in 1930 and brother, William, died in 1939.

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[Waterloo Daily Courier, Thursday, February 16, 1956;

Funeral services lor Ruben A. Rath, 63, of 214 Highland Blvd., will be Friday at 3 p. m. in Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Charles J. Gunnell officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.

Rath, chairman of the board of the Rath Packing Co., died of a heart ailment Tuesday night. Friends may call at O'Keefe & Towne Funeral Home until 2:30 p.m. Friday. The casket will not be opened at the church.

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