ARKADELPHIA - Ralph Lee Rainwater died at his home on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. Born on March 4, 1920, Mr. Rainwater was 8 days away from his 90th birthday and 3 months away from his 60th wedding anniversary. Ralph was born to Grace Oliver Rainwater and William Harris Rainwater (1897-1958), the s/o Henry Houston Rainwater (1859-1926), the s/o John Sanford Rainwater (1819-1898), the s/o James Rainwater (1791-1871), the s/o William Rainwater.
Mr. Rainwater is survived by his wife, Ima Lea Vickers Rainwater, and his 3 children; Michael Ralph Rainwater (Kathy) of Little Rock, Ann Rainwater Scrimshire (Bill) of Malvern, and Janet Rainwater Ross (Rick) of Benton. Mr. Rainwater is survived by his eight grandchildren; John Michael Rainwater, David Mitchell Rainwater, Benjamin Harris Rainwater, Ronda Hughes Hodges (Rick), Natalie Scrimshire Phelps (Joe), Brent William Perry Scrimshire, Kirk Hendric Ross, Katherine “Kate” Grace Ross, and 1 great-grandchild, Rowan Ann Phelps. Ralph was the oldest of 7 brothers and 1 sister -- predeceased by brothers Norton (deceased: Sue), Earl, and Doyle (Janette) and survived by sister Vera Rainwater Shepherd and brothers Glenn Rainwater (Doris), Vernon Rainwater (Barbara) and Carrol Rainwater (Paddy).
Mr. Rainwater grew up on Lee Creek between Natural Dam and Uniontown in Crawford County. The local school stopped at the 8th grade, so Ralph attended the 8th grade 4 times (teaching the last 2 years) while waiting on brothers Norton and Earl to finish the 8th grade. All three then moved to nearby Cedarville, to attend high school together. At 21, Ralph became the Natural Dam Postmaster (then the youngest Postmaster in the U.S.). Joining the Army in 1942, Ralph spent the war at Headquarters Seventh Service Command in Omaha, NE. As sergeant, he was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1949, at a BSU bonfire, Ralph met the love of his life, Ima Lea Vickers. The couple graduated from ASTC (now UCA) and married in June of 1950. Children followed in 1951 (Mike), 1953 (Ann) and 1957 (Janet). Although educated to be a school teacher, Ralph pursued “data processing” (learned in the Army) as a career. “Data processing” became “systems analysis”, with the computer age. His career led the family from Little Rock to Tulsa to Miami, OK, to Little Rock, to Arkadelphia, and back to Little Rock. In 1986, Ralph retired from APERS. Always looking for the perfect little farm, Ralph found it in the Manchester community south of Arkadelphia. There Ralph and Ima have lived the good life in the country for over 25 years. They have loved the people of the Manchester community and the people of that community have loved them.
Ralph made lots of right choices in his life. He would tell you that the most important choice he made was to place his trust for life, and for eternity, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ralph provided a Christian home for his family, and he led by Christian example. He showed his family what love is and treated all with Christian charity. When Ralph left for the Army, his mother gave him a Bible, “from your father and mother as a guide to heaven.” In it she wrote: “Son: Please read and study this book for I want you to walk in the light of its teachings that the Lord's Law may be written in your mind and heart so there will be no room or place for Satan in your life.” Signed: “your mother.” Dated: Dec. 25, 1942. Ralph did what his mother asked of him and on Feb. 24, 2010, Ralph arrived in heaven where both his mother and his Lord, Jesus Christ, said: “Well done.” Ralph Rainwater lived this life well and finished strong.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at Manchester United Methodist Church with Pastor George T. Whitney officiating. Interment will be in Atchley Cemetery at Dalark. Visitation will be from noon until service time on Saturday.
Ralph’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Manchester United Methodist Church, C/O Mattie McCaskell, 226 Darby Road, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.
Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the online guest book and view the video tribute.
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ARKADELPHIA - Ralph Lee Rainwater died at his home on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. Born on March 4, 1920, Mr. Rainwater was 8 days away from his 90th birthday and 3 months away from his 60th wedding anniversary. Ralph was born to Grace Oliver Rainwater and William Harris Rainwater (1897-1958), the s/o Henry Houston Rainwater (1859-1926), the s/o John Sanford Rainwater (1819-1898), the s/o James Rainwater (1791-1871), the s/o William Rainwater.
Mr. Rainwater is survived by his wife, Ima Lea Vickers Rainwater, and his 3 children; Michael Ralph Rainwater (Kathy) of Little Rock, Ann Rainwater Scrimshire (Bill) of Malvern, and Janet Rainwater Ross (Rick) of Benton. Mr. Rainwater is survived by his eight grandchildren; John Michael Rainwater, David Mitchell Rainwater, Benjamin Harris Rainwater, Ronda Hughes Hodges (Rick), Natalie Scrimshire Phelps (Joe), Brent William Perry Scrimshire, Kirk Hendric Ross, Katherine “Kate” Grace Ross, and 1 great-grandchild, Rowan Ann Phelps. Ralph was the oldest of 7 brothers and 1 sister -- predeceased by brothers Norton (deceased: Sue), Earl, and Doyle (Janette) and survived by sister Vera Rainwater Shepherd and brothers Glenn Rainwater (Doris), Vernon Rainwater (Barbara) and Carrol Rainwater (Paddy).
Mr. Rainwater grew up on Lee Creek between Natural Dam and Uniontown in Crawford County. The local school stopped at the 8th grade, so Ralph attended the 8th grade 4 times (teaching the last 2 years) while waiting on brothers Norton and Earl to finish the 8th grade. All three then moved to nearby Cedarville, to attend high school together. At 21, Ralph became the Natural Dam Postmaster (then the youngest Postmaster in the U.S.). Joining the Army in 1942, Ralph spent the war at Headquarters Seventh Service Command in Omaha, NE. As sergeant, he was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1949, at a BSU bonfire, Ralph met the love of his life, Ima Lea Vickers. The couple graduated from ASTC (now UCA) and married in June of 1950. Children followed in 1951 (Mike), 1953 (Ann) and 1957 (Janet). Although educated to be a school teacher, Ralph pursued “data processing” (learned in the Army) as a career. “Data processing” became “systems analysis”, with the computer age. His career led the family from Little Rock to Tulsa to Miami, OK, to Little Rock, to Arkadelphia, and back to Little Rock. In 1986, Ralph retired from APERS. Always looking for the perfect little farm, Ralph found it in the Manchester community south of Arkadelphia. There Ralph and Ima have lived the good life in the country for over 25 years. They have loved the people of the Manchester community and the people of that community have loved them.
Ralph made lots of right choices in his life. He would tell you that the most important choice he made was to place his trust for life, and for eternity, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ralph provided a Christian home for his family, and he led by Christian example. He showed his family what love is and treated all with Christian charity. When Ralph left for the Army, his mother gave him a Bible, “from your father and mother as a guide to heaven.” In it she wrote: “Son: Please read and study this book for I want you to walk in the light of its teachings that the Lord's Law may be written in your mind and heart so there will be no room or place for Satan in your life.” Signed: “your mother.” Dated: Dec. 25, 1942. Ralph did what his mother asked of him and on Feb. 24, 2010, Ralph arrived in heaven where both his mother and his Lord, Jesus Christ, said: “Well done.” Ralph Rainwater lived this life well and finished strong.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at Manchester United Methodist Church with Pastor George T. Whitney officiating. Interment will be in Atchley Cemetery at Dalark. Visitation will be from noon until service time on Saturday.
Ralph’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Manchester United Methodist Church, C/O Mattie McCaskell, 226 Darby Road, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.
Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the online guest book and view the video tribute.
