Robert Paul Rains

Robert “Bob” Paul Rains, Sr., died peacefully in Waynesboro, TN on Friday, February 9, at the age of 88.
Survivors include his daughters Betty Rains Anderson and her husband Coy, Nan Rains Ashburn and her husband Mason; son Robert Paul Rains, Jr. and his wife Lauren; granddaughters, Lottie Anderson Warren and her husband Daryl, Bonnie Anderson Butler and her husband Cory, Jennie Harper Workman and her husband Brandon, Shannon Ashburn Collins and her husband PJ, Mary Lauren Anderson Garner and her husband Rob, and Alexa Nicole Rains; grandsons, Mack Rains Ashburn and his wife Kellie, Corbin Robert Rains, and Evan Patterson Rains; great granddaughter, ClairAnne Reece Workman; and great grandsons, Cody Ryan Warren, Ryder Dwayne Butler, Case Anderson Butler, and William Thomas Ashburn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret “Marty” Rains, of Waynesboro, TN; daughter Martha Kathleen Rains; father, Hildren Paul Rains; and mother Frankie Melson Rains.
Bob was born on November 13, 1929, in Memphis, TN, to Hildren Paul Rains and Frankie Melson Rains. He graduated from Wayne County High School in 1948 and attended Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of that year. He joined the Army in 1951, graduated from Officers Candidate School, and married his high school sweetheart, Marty, on June 5, 1952, in Corinth, MS. Bob served the U.S. Army in South Korea as a Lt. assigned to the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG) from 1952-1953 then returned home to complete his degree at Memphis State and remained active in the Reserve and National Guard. He began his teaching career as a biology teacher and coach at Wayne County High in 1955 and later received his Master’s Degree from MTSU. Bob served as high school principal from 1963 until 1982 when he was elected Wayne County Superintendent of Schools. He and Marty started and ran a local art and frame shop called Marty’s Art Shop to help pay the bills and college tuition for their three children. Bob was an active member in the Waynesboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served as elder, Sunday School teacher, and treasurer for a total of 52 years. Bob served in the National Guard 13 years and ended his service with the Savannah, TN unit with the rank of Company Commander in 1966. He retired from education in 1986 with 31 years of service after completing his term as superintendent and continued to stay active in the church, Gideons International, wood working, serving as Wayne County Historian (20 years), and most importantly being a fine Christian example to all that knew him.
Visitation will be at the Shackelford Funeral Home on Friday, February 16, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.
Graveside service with military honors will be held at Waynesboro Memorial Gardens with Ben Luttrell officiating on Saturday, February 17, at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 234, Waynesboro, TN 38485.