1941-2024
Charles Reed Rainwater of Sheridan, Arkansas was born June 20, 1941 in Newark, the son of the late Raymond Ralph Rainwater and Bessie Heron Rainwater. He retired as a Master Chief from the Navy and was very proud to serve. When in service, he learned to play the pedal steel guitar and performed informally with groups where he was stationed.
Mr. Rainwater died at Evergreen Health and Rehab in Bryant on April 5, 2024 at the age of 82.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Rainwater; sister-in-law, June Rainwater; brother-in-law, Neal Magee.
He loved to travel. For several years he drove to Arizona for a few weeks during winter to join friends where they played lots of golf, visited casinos, and ate fresh picked oranges.
He loved to go out to eat, and also to cook, and had begun to watch a variety of cooking videos on YouTube for inspiration. He was known to visit Oaklawn for the horse races and different casinos to play slot machines.
Mr. Rainwater also loved to “wet a hook” and try his luck at fishing as much as possible. He hosted a family fish fry for several years with the fish he caught.
It was important to him, and he enjoyed, keeping in touch with his friends from his time in the service. He enjoyed family history and revisiting the places where he and his siblings lived and played as children. He also enjoyed retelling funny family stories he heard growing up, even the ones no one really believed the first time they were told. (especially those.)
Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, April 12, 2024 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with Bro. Michael Walton officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service from 10:00 until service time.
Pallbearers are nephews and great-nephews; Brant Steele, Braylon Steele, Mark Rainwater, Grayson McCool, Hayden McCool, Rob Rainwater.
