He was born to James Harrison Rainbolt, Sr., and Ruth (nee Schafer) Rainbolt on May 23, 1927, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
While he was still in grade school, his family moved to what is now Fairview Heights, Illinois, where he attended Pontiac Grade School. After a later move to Collinsville, Illinois, he entered Collinsville High School, graduating in 1945.
On June 4, 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served and sailed aboard the NTC Great Lakes Illinois, the USS Hazelwood (DD 531) and the USS Medusa (AR 1). He received an Area Campaign Medal and a Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on July 19, 1946.
The son of a master builder, John worked for several years as a construction contractor while living in Fairview Heights. During that time he was elected justice of the peace, running on the Democratic ticket. He was also active in the local chapter of Toastmasters, International.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from McKendree College, in Lebanon, Illinois, in 1967.
An avid reader, John also enjoyed gardening, world travel and listening to music--especially classical music.
His long-time civil service career, which he began in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1970, included positions in Camp Carol, South Korea (1973-1977); White Sands, New Mexico (1977-1980); Frankfurt, Germany (1980-1985); and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (1985-1994). After his retirement from civil service, he pursued a career as a real estate appraiser from 1995 to 2003.
In 1978, he was united in marriage to Kyong Sook, of South Korea, who has worked as a civil service employee at Ft. Leonard Wood since 1986.
John was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Ruth Chamless, Edith Louise Hogan, and Carolyn Smith, and two brothers, William Lewis Rainbolt and James Harrison Rainbolt, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Kyong; one daughter, Paula Sullivan, of Clermont, Florida; two grandsons, Rodney Sullivan and wife Janet of Clermont and Travis Sullivan and wife Katie of Chelmsford, Massachusetts; two brothers, Robert Schafer Rainbolt and wife Doris, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Harry Richard Rainbolt and wife Rosella, of Manhattan, Kansas; 16 nieces and nephews; and numerous grand-nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 31, 2012 in the Memorial Chapels and Crematory with Rev. Lee Todd officiating. The song “Wind Beneath My Wings” was sung
Inurnment was held in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery-Fort Leonard Wood of Waynesville, Missouri.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of John Rainbolt to the Pulaski County Humane Society and may be left at the funeral home. , of St. Robert, Missouri, died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at Phelps Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Missouri.
He was born to James Harrison Rainbolt, Sr., and Ruth (nee Schafer) Rainbolt on May 23, 1927, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
While he was still in grade school, his family moved to what is now Fairview Heights, Illinois, where he attended Pontiac Grade School. After a later move to Collinsville, Illinois, he entered Collinsville High School, graduating in 1945.
On June 4, 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served and sailed aboard the NTC Great Lakes Illinois, the USS Hazelwood (DD 531) and the USS Medusa (AR 1). He received an Area Campaign Medal and a Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on July 19, 1946.
The son of a master builder, John worked for several years as a construction contractor while living in Fairview Heights. During that time he was elected justice of the peace, running on the Democratic ticket. He was also active in the local chapter of Toastmasters, International.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from McKendree College, in Lebanon, Illinois, in 1967.
An avid reader, John also enjoyed gardening, world travel and listening to music--especially classical music.
His long-time civil service career, which he began in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1970, included positions in Camp Carol, South Korea (1973-1977); White Sands, New Mexico (1977-1980); Frankfurt, Germany (1980-1985); and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (1985-1994). After his retirement from civil service, he pursued a career as a real estate appraiser from 1995 to 2003.
In 1978, he was united in marriage to Kyong Sook, of South Korea, who has worked as a civil service employee at Ft. Leonard Wood since 1986.
John was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Ruth Chamless, Edith Louise Hogan, and Carolyn Smith, and two brothers, William Lewis Rainbolt and James Harrison Rainbolt, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Kyong; one daughter, Paula Sullivan, of Clermont, Florida; two grandsons, Rodney Sullivan and wife Janet of Clermont and Travis Sullivan and wife Katie of Chelmsford, Massachusetts; two brothers, Robert Schafer Rainbolt and wife Doris, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Harry Richard Rainbolt and wife Rosella, of Manhattan, Kansas; 16 nieces and nephews; and numerous grand-nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 31, 2012 in the Memorial Chapels and Crematory with Rev. Lee Todd officiating. The song “Wind Beneath My Wings” was sung
Inurnment was held in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery-Fort Leonard Wood of Waynesville, Missouri.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of John Rainbolt to the Pulaski County Humane Society and may be left at the funeral home.
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