William Robert Rainey

His father owned and operated a lumber mill, a cotton gin and served on the local bank board. Bill grew up on the family farm, Grove Hill, with his four siblings, hunting, fishing, and raising bird dogs and cattle. Those hobbies would continue to be his passions throughout life.

He graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1939. He would become a Life Member of the Citadel Alumni Association and a Major Donor to the Citadel Development Fund.

Bill entered the United States Army on July 5, 1939 as a Second Lieutenant. He attended service schools in Fort Monroe, Virginia; Camp Wallace, Texas; Orlando, Florida; Camp Davis, North Carolina; and Camp Edwards, Massachusetts.

One of his early stations was in San Juan, Puerto Rico as aide to General Jimmie Collins. It was there he met his bride, Paula Didi Theresa McClune whose father was also in the military. They were married in Miami Florida on November 3, 1942.

Bill served in World War II with the Fifth Armored Division. He was auto weapons commander for the 387th AAA Battalion. They landed at Utah Beach in Normandy and pushed on to the Elbe River, participating in five major battles and campaigns; Normandy, Northern France, the Battle of the Bulge, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, EAME Theater Campaign Medal with five Bronze Service Stars, the American Theater Campaign Medal, and the American Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star. He resigned his commission in 1946 as a Major, however, was in the Reserve on the staff of the 36th Division Artillery until 1948.

Upon his return to the civilian life, he joined Didi in San Antonio where they chose to raise their family. He entered the construction business, starting with one curb at a time, sidewalks, then foundations, steel buildings, and finally major warehouses and plants. His work was editorialized in the San Antonio Express News in 1976 as being a major factor in the economic development of San Antonio and he was touted for being a contractor who was "on time and on budget".

A man of his word, he took pride in the fact that many of his contracts were sealed with a simple handshake. In 1960, he was an originator of tilt concrete wall construction in San Antonio. Southern Moving and Storage, Straus-Frank, Scobey Moving and Storage, Thad Ziegler Glass, Pioneer Flour Mill, Budweiser, and Baker Tool Co., are a few representatives of his work. He retired in 1984.

Bill and his wife had three daughters: Anne Elaine, Stephanie Marie and Paula Therese. He was a loving, generous, caring, and strict family man. A devoted husband, he became a model caretaker for his wife during her recent illness. He loved life and took a keen interest in those around him, always ready with a quick joke. His family was the most important part of his life.

He pursued his love of hunting, especially quail, with numerous friends and family members. He ran and trained his own dogs, two of the favorites being Shag and Missy. The Rainey family ranch at Sisterdale, The Iron Spur, was his favorite place - the center of family gatherings and celebrations. Friends and acquaintances often received sacks full of peaches he'd grown in his Sisterdale orchard.

Bill was a member of The Argyle Club, San Antonio Country Club, San Antonio Executive Club, Los Alegradores Dancing Club, the American Legion over 50 years Post #10, San Antonio Kiwanis Club, Conopus Club, Director of the Bexar County National Bank later the Republic Bank, Lodge 1079, Masonic Lodge, Past Councilman of Olmos Park, Alzafar Shrine, 32 degree Mason.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, John Silas and Anna Faulkner Rainey; his brother, Dr. John Faulkner Rainey and Joseph Hunter Rainey; his sisters, Mary Adelene Rainey and Margaret Anna Rainey; and nephew, Joseph Henry Rainey.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Paula Didi Rainey; his daughters: Anna Rainey Peavy and her husband, Robert, San Antonio; Stephanie Rainey Cage and her husband, Presnall, Falfurrias; Paula Rainey Johnson and her husband, Clyde, San Antonio; his grandchildren: Clyde John Bennett Johnson, IV and his wife, Kimberly; Mary Stephanie Peavy; Presnall Grady Cage and his wife, Caroline; Paula Rainey Johnson; Margaret Anna Peavy; Valerie Cage Ziegler and her husband, William; William Rainey Cage; and his great grandchildren: Richard Presnall Cage; Campbell Starr Cage; and Clyde John Bennett Johnson, V; his nephews and nieces: John Stringer Rainey, Nancy Rainey Crowley, Mary Rainey Belser, and Robert McElwee Rainey and their children.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to care givers: Virginia Mejia, Armando Gutierrez, Lorie Hernandez, Ronald Passmore, Tania Hererra, Beatrice Robles, Eunice Rodriguez and Michael Solarin.

The family will be having a private burial in Sisterdale, TX. Honorary Pallbearers will be: David Straus, John Widner, Severo Chico Macias, Jimmy Heiligman, Dan Duderstadt, Weir Labatt III, William Forrest Ziegler and grandsons: Clyde Johnson IV, Presnall Grady Cage and William Rainey Cage.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Citadel Development Fund, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409 or to a charity of your choice.