Tom (Connie) Rainer

Tom (Connie) Rainer, age 82, of Gatesville passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery. Tom (Connie) Rainer was born on November 4, 1934 in Gatesville, Texas, the son of Young Wood and Dora Alma (Wittie) Rainer. Due to the death of his mother on December 24, 1934, Connie was raised by his grandparents and single aunts and uncles, The Wittie’s. The family lived in the Spring Hill Community of Coryell County until forced to move by the building of Fort Hood. Connie and the Wittie’s then moved to Gatesville in 1942, where he maintained a close relationship with his dad and siblings. He graduated from Gatesville High School in 1953 and from Baylor University in 1957. He spent two years in the U.S. Army in Germany in 1958 and 1959 with the 11th Airborne and the 24th Infantry Division. He was a switchboard operator and telegraph operator while in Germany. He returned to Gatesville in 1959. He was recalled to active duty in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and served at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Connie was employed with the Texas Youth Council as a caseworker and casework supervisor at the Gatesville State School for Boys. He later transferred to the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and became a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Senior Rehabilitation Counselor. During his working years, Connie was a member and on the Board of Directors of the Texas State Juvenile Officers Association, a member of the Texas Probation and Parole Association, and a member of the National Rehabilitation Counselors Association. He enjoyed gardening and was a Wittie, Rainer, and Gilbreath family genealogist and enjoyed searching and recording the family history. He married Laura Jane Gilbreath in Gatesville on June 15, 1963, and they made their home in Gatesville all their married life. Connie and Jane had three loving children. He was a longtime member of the Gateway Baptist Church in Gatesville. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, A.D. Rainer and J.W. Rainer; and a sister, Ila Hamilton. Connie is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane; sons, John Rainer and wife, Dina of Overland Park, Kansas and James Rainer of Bryan, Texas; daughter, Ann Hutchinson of Folsom, California; four grandchildren, Macy Rainer, Janie Rainer, Julia Hutchinson, and Camma Hutchinson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Gateway Baptist Church, Benevolence Fund, P.O. Box 724, Gatesville, TX 76528.