Obituary of Charles J. Rath, Sr.

Charles J. Rath, Sr. 79, of Hatfield, PA passed away on Sunday December 27, 2015. Born in Chestnut Hill, PA on October 4, 1936, Charles was raised in his hometown of Conshohocken, PA. He attended St Matthew's High School where he met the love of his life, Dorothy. The two were married on April 12, 1958 and spent virtually every moment thereafter together. Over the past 57 years they built a family which today consists of twelve children, eighteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Charles fondly claimed that after his four sons and two daughters married his six children doubled to twelve. Family meant everything to him. Charles attended Villanova University where he studied accounting and later pursued a carrier as an accountant with Sperry Rand, Univac and Unisys. He and Dorothy raised their children in Blue Bell, PA where they were devout members of St Helena's Parish. While Charles retired from Unisys in 1985, he never really slowed down. He and Dorothy traveled extensively and he particularly enjoyed their cruises to Bermuda where they had honeymooned. They moved to Hatfield, PA where they continued their commitment to the church as members of St. Maria Goretti Church. Charles loved being around people and continued to stay active as a part-time accountant, tax preparer, bartender, marina operator, butcher, deliveryman and bus driver's assistant. He relished his volunteer time as president of the Creekwood Village Association and greeter at Lansdale Abington Hospital. If you happened by the hospital you knew "Charlie". His friends were too many to count and he will miss his monthly lunches with the Univac retirement boys. Charles was the son of the late Gerald J. and Catherine (Thwaite) Rath. His legacy is his surviving family: Wife Dorothy M. (Bokoski) Rath of Hatfield PA; son Charles (& Debra) Rath, Jr. of Norristown PA; daughter Elizabeth (& Stephen) Santangelo of Collegeville PA; son Daniel (& Monica) Rath of Greenville DE; son Edward (& Natalie) Rath of Gilbertsville, PA; daughter Susan (& Jon) Collins of Collegeville PA; son Stanley (& Jaime) Rath of Warrington, PA; sister Mary Patricia Kehoe of Conshohocken PA; sister-in-law Rita Rath of Conshohocken PA. Along with his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his brother Gerald J. Rath. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 beginning 10:30 AM at St. Maria Goretti Church, 1601 Derstine Road, Hatfield, PA 19440. Friends may call on Wednesday Morning from 9:30 to 10:30AM at the Church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: Crossroads Hospice, 523 Plymouth Road, Suite 225 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 OR St. Maria Goretti Church, 1601 Derstine Road, Hatfield, PA 19440.