Dr. Donald Drum Rabb

Dr. Donald Drum Rabb, 97, of Benton, Pa., died on March 8, 2019.  He was the son of U.S. Marshall Robert W. Rabb and Lola Drum Rabb owners of Rabb’s Rexall Drug Store in Benton, PA., born on February 24, 1922.  He was predeceased by his loving wife Dottie in June of 2018 and great grandson Jacob Shipman in 2016. 

He is survived by his sister, Betty Rabb Helwig and her husband Joseph of Media, Pa., his daughter, Dottieann Rabb Pollock, Boca Raton, Fl., Robert McHenry Rabb and wife Debra May Rabb of Muncy, Pa. and James McHenry Rabb and wife Bernadette of Coconut Creek, Florida.  There are 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

He graduated from Benton High School in 1940 and began courses at Bloomsburg State Teachers College. Then in 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, where he proudly served as a meteorologist in North Africa.
 
Before being shipped overseas, Donald married his sweetheart, Dottie McHenry of Stillwater, Pa., on April 24, 1943 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They celebrated their 75th wedding Anniversary with friends and family in April, 2018.

Donald was born to be a teacher, a calling that he was extremely good at and for which he had a great passion. (Just ask his hundreds of students.)  Dottie and Don spent a year in Allentown, PA., where he began teaching high school science courses. For the next 11 years, Benton High School was lucky enough to have his services for all science courses, as well as, coaching soccer and baseball. 

The next phase of his career brought Don back to his alma mater, as a professor at Bloomsburg State Teachers College. (later to become Bloomsburg University) Dr. Rabb earned a Master’s degree at Bucknell University and his Doctorate from Penn State University.  For 27 years, the courses he taught ranged from Biology, Botany, Genetics, and Anatomy & Physiology.  To better inform his nursing students, Dr. Rabb wrote a sabbatical that took him into several great hospitals to observe operations and general medical care.  He observed over a hundred operations from simple to complex open heart surgeries. This experience was life changing. Over the years, he has been treated and thanked by many of the nurses that took his courses.  

Donald was active in several National Committees that helped improve the teaching of biology for high school and college teachers. This endeavor led him to teach in unique places such as the University of Hawaii, University of Colorado, and the University of Delhi, India.

Dr. Rabb was active in Boy Scouts of America at Camp Lavigne, Benton Town Council, member and guest lecturer for the American Heart Association, American Red Cross Advisory Committee, Masonic Lodge member, Bloomsburg Fair Association, Veterans, Elks, and others. He and Dottie were active members of the Benton Christian Church where he was a deacon and Sunday School Teacher.  Don enjoyed membership in the Painter Den Hunting Club and co-wrote a detailed history of the club’s members and events.

His honored achievements include earning his Eagle Scout award at 16 years old,  Benton High School “Hall of Fame”, and the Bloomsburg University Biology Department’s “Wall of Fame”.  He was also the first commencement speaker when Bloomsburg became a University.

Don’s hobbies ranged from hunting, fishing, golf, Penn State football, nature, history, drawing, writing and traveling.  He enjoyed sharing in these experiences with his family and many friends.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, April 7th, 2019 at 2 PM at the Benton Christian Church, Third and Church Streets, Benton.  He did not want flowers but instead asks that you send donations to The Benton Christian Church, P.O.Box 264, Benton, PA. 17814 or the Benton High School Scholarship Fund, 600 Green Acres Rd., Benton, PA. 17814.  

Dr. Donald Rabb was loved by all who met him. He made a difference!   

The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Rabb Family.  
 

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