Rubin Edward Rawley

Rubin Edward Rawley was born on November 2, 1938. He passed away peacefully, on December 26, 2024, in his home surrounded by his family.

He was born in Wenatchee, Washington, to Fred and Rachel Rawley. He grew up in Brewster, where he worked on his father’s apple orchard, learning the value of hard work at an early age. Rubin was an accomplished athlete in high school, excelling in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He also developed a love for music, taking piano lessons as a child, playing the alto saxophone in the high school band, and learning to play the guitar.

Following high school, Rubin attended Central Washington University, where he became a star football player for the Central Washington Wildcats. During his junior and senior years, he served as team captain and earned both the Inspirational and Best Blocking awards. He was named 1st string offense and defense on the All-Conference Team both years and 1st string offense on the All-Northwest Team. Rubin also continued his musical pursuits, playing guitar at various events on campus.  After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in mathematics, Rubin began a 30-year career at Sumner High School as a math teacher and coach.

In 1965, Rubin met his lifelong love, Peggy, while living in Sumner. They shared a life full of love, joy, and happiness for the next fifty years until Peggy’s passing in 2016. In 1970, they became parents of their only child together, Marcus Duke Rawley. They became expert bridge players, competing in both social and tournament games. They also enjoyed traveling to Reno, Nevada for gambling and musical shows. Rubin became an accomplished blackjack player, utilizing the winning strategies of math professor Edward Thorp. In addition to their bridge and gambling hobbies, they enjoyed dancing and were active members of three different dance clubs, frequently dancing at the Puyallup and Tacoma Elks clubs.

In 1974, he continued his love of learning, earning his master’s degree of Science in Mathematics from Oregon State University. In 1977, Rubin and Peggy, along with business partners, started an apartment business. They bought, sold, managed, maintained, and even built 2 duplexes in 1994. In 2007, they sold their entire portfolio.

After retiring from teaching in 1991, Rubin and Peggy began spending winters in the Palm Desert area. After many years in Palm Springs, they relocated to the Phoenix area, where they spent eight years together before Peggy’s passing.

Rubin continued his passion for music throughout his life. He played guitar in various bands and, using modern technology, recorded his own accompaniment on the keyboard, performing at many events as a one-man band. He was a member of the Linden Golf and Country Club, St. Andrews Catholic Church in Sumner, the Daffodil Valley Kiwanis Club, the Elks Club, and the Touch of Class Big Band.

Rubin is survived by his son Marcus Rawley (Kristy), Grandchildren Jylian Polson (Michael), Loren Rawley (Esteban York), and one beautiful Great Granddaughter Freya Polson. In addition, he shared a deep, close bond with his stepchildren, born of Peggy Rawley: Rebecca Baxter (Terry), Kathy Miller, Amy Hill (Chris), Dale Hood (Maripet), who added to his family, 7 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren.