SHERIDAN — Charles Reed Rainwater

of Sheridan, Ark., was born June 20, 1941, in Newark, the son of the late Raymond Ralph Rainwater and Bessie Heron Rainwater. He retired as a Master Chief from the Navy and was very proud to serve. When in service, he learned to play the pedal steel guitar and performed informally with groups where he was stationed.

Mr. Rainwater died at Evergreen Health and Rehab in Bryant on April 5, 2024, at the age of 82.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Rainwater; sister-in-law, June Rainwater; brother-in-law, Neal Magee.

He loved to travel. For several years he drove to Arizona for a few weeks during winter to join friends where they played lots of golf, visited casinos, and ate fresh picked oranges.

He loved to go out to eat, and also to cook, and had begun to watch a variety of cooking videos on YouTube for inspiration. He was known to visit Oaklawn for the horse races and different casinos to play slot machines.

Mr. Rainwater also loved to “wet a hook” and try his luck at fishing as much as possible. He hosted a family fish fry for several years with the fish he caught.

It was important to him, and he enjoyed, keeping in touch with his friends from his time in the service. He enjoyed family history and revisiting the places where he and his siblings lived and played as children. He also enjoyed retelling funny family stories he heard growing up, even the ones no one really believed the first time they were told (especially those).

Funeral service: 11 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2024 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Burial: Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation: 10:00 until service time.