Adlinie Ewald Rathman
Adlinie Ewald Rathman, 74, died on Tuesday, Aug. 13. After a courageous battle with lung disease, the world has lost a loving mother and grandmother, compassionate friend, dedicated businesswoman, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
Adlinie, a Caldwell County native, was born Aug. 4, 1939, to Herbert and Ella Rosa Ewald. Her parents worked as farmers and ranchers, raising
cattle, corn and cotton. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class at Lockhart High School in 1957, where she participated in one-act plays and the Future Homemakers of America. After school, she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Austin. In 1959, Adlinie married Joe Lee Rathman and moved to Bastrop county. She first worked as a stenographer, then as an accounting supervisor before the birth of her daughter in 1961. She enjoyed staying home with Gayle until April 1, 1970, when she then became Office Manager of Aqua Water Supply Corporation in Bastrop. Her career at Aqua lasted until her retirement in August of 2001.
Throughout her life, Adlinie actively served her community. Perhaps this gregarious quality can be attributed to her life-long involvement in the local ranching community she shared with her late husband, including being an owner in the Lockhart Livestock Commission Company.
At age 54, she was the first woman appointed to the First National Bank of Bastrop Board of Directors in the bank’s 104-year history. No stranger to the First National’s stockholders, employees and customers, she took an especially active interest in the bank’s events for nearly 20 years. She was gratified by her invitation to participate on the board and delighted for the opportunity to continue the bank’s tradition of service to the community.
Her involvement and familiarity with the people in so many of the county’s communities was an asset when she joined Bluebonnet Electric’s Board of Directors in 1996. Again, Adlinie was the first woman selected to the board, and she successfully ran for re-election several times.
Anyone who was acquainted with Adlinie knew she was a “people person.” Whether she was shopping or going out to eat, chances were that she would run into someone she knew; and if she was not acquainted with someone at the beginning of a conversation, she would walk away feeling like old friends. She loved people and helping others. She was a dear friend to all whose wisdom guided others in their endeavors. Her charitable works and humanitarian spirit, her concern for all people, and her tireless work for the community made her a true Texas first lady.
She was a member of the Independent Cattlemen’s Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s Association, honorary member of the Bastrop Area 4-H and FFA Livestock Association, Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, and Bastrop County Historical Society.
Survivors include her daughter, Gayle Foster, of Bastrop and husband, Tim; grandson, Weston Rathman Warnock; and granddaughter, Joelle Elizabeth Foster. Additional survivors include her brother Ernest Ewald, Sr., and wife Alma, sister, Dorothy Grohman, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Rathman was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and brother, Herbert Ewald Jr.
Funeral services were held on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church, 603 Spring St., Bastrop, Texas. The family will received friends Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 – 7:30 p.m. at Bastrop Providence Funeral Home, 2079 E Hwy 71, Bastrop.
Pallbearers were the First National Bank Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Elgin, Smithville Board of Directors: Reid Sharp, Robert Miller, Verlin Callahan, Bob Long, Brook Hurta, J.D. Mican, Ray Long, James Kershaw, Robert Berryhill, and Will Jenkins. Honorary pallbearers were Keith Bexley, Robby Turner, Bob Higgins, Bobby Jenkins, Ernest Barrow, Ernest Ewald, Jr., Alvis Grohman, Jr., David Grohman, Lonnie Dean Grohman, James Grohman and Kevin Grohman.
Her undying love and devotion will live on in the hearts of her children and grandchildren as her greatest legacy.
Memorials can be made to Calvary Episcopal Church, PO Box 721, Bastrop, Texas.
To view and sign the guestbook, visit www.post-register.com/obituaries/adlinie-ewald-rothman.
