Obituary of Ernest Rains

Ernest Ezra Rains ?Ernie? Mr. Rains, 87, of Charlotte, entered into eternal life on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. He was born on December 20, 1921 in Castle, Oklahoma to Thomas Jefferson and Lillie Clour Rains. He lived in Oklahoma until he entered the service on July 15, 1942. He was stationed at Camp Hale, Colorado and was in training as a member of the newly established 10th Mountain Division when he met Josephine Montoya. They were married on June 22, 1944, and two days later the division was sent to Texas for further training, then to Italy to fight in WWII. He earned two Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct Medal while in the service. After his discharge he and Jo settled in Kansas and he joined the Kansas Air National Guard. Ernie was a 30 year employee of Phillips Pipeline Company, a division of Phillips Petroleum, and worked for Phillips in Wichita, Kansas, Memphis, Tennessee, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before being transferred to Charlotte. He retired from Phillips in 1985. Ernie was an active member of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, 110th Signal Company, and a Past President of the Southeast Chapter. He was the recipient of many commendations of appreciation from the Association and the Chapter. A devoted husband and father, a loving grandfather and great-grandfather, he is survived by his daughter-in-law, Joanne, of Memphis, TN; daughter, Betty Cochrane and her husband, David, of Rogersville, TN; son, Joe and his wife, Linda, of Fort Atkinson, WI; daughter, Carol, of Charlotte; son, David, and his life companion, Kerri, of Charlotte; son, Paul, and his wife, Dee, of Oakdale, CA; son, Dan, and his wife, Shelley, of Willington, CT; daughter-in-law, Barbara Helms, and husband, Scott, of Charlotte, NC; 18 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; brother Winfred ?Pedro? and his wife, Jo Ann, of McAlester, OK; and sister-in-law Jo Ann Rains of Pauls Valley, OK. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Jo, and his son Charles. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Cathedral of St. Patrick's on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park. There will be a Rosary service at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service on Monday evening June 29, at 7:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends following the Rosary service until 9:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to The Cathedral of St. Patrick's, 1621 Dilworth Rd. E, Charlotte, NC 28203 or Hospice and Palliative, Care Charlotte Region, 1420 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204.