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Emilie Chapman Ashe

Leading up to St. Paul’s 150th anniversary, let’s take a look at some of the former church members. Looking around the church, there are many plaques that name former members of the congregation memorialized by their gifts to the glory of God and in remembrance of loved ones.

The silver communion set pictured above is often used at the 10 o’clock service at St. Paul’s. The set was donated by Emilie Chapman Ashe in memory of her son Robert Packer Rathbun. Not only did Emilie donate the beautiful communion set but also the processional cross as well as the two stained glass windows at the front of the church on the right side. All these memorials were donated by a grieving mother who wanted her only son to be remembered.

Emilie Chapman was born in Pennsylvania in 1868. She married Robert Parker Rathbun in 1887. She became a widow when he died in 1899. She married Richard Porter Ashe in 1905. He was a divorced lawyer and man-about-town in San Francisco.

Emilie Chapman had only one child named after his father, Robert Packer Rathbun. He was born in1893. In 1910 he was living with his mother and step-father in San Rafael at 320 Fifth Ave. He went to Yale University. He joined the Navy and became an officer in WWI. He continued his service in the Naval reserve, In 1924 he married Charlotte Zeil in St. Paul’s Church. Unfortunately, she passed away and he married again to Jane Williams. He worked as an engineer for the state highway commission and was living in Chico when he died of influenza at age 35 in 1928. He was buried in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. But he will always be remembered here at St. Paul’s for the beautiful memorials donate by his mother.

~Joy Moss