of Little Rock, AR

April 30, 1940 - February 28, 2023

John Michael Rainwater, 82, passed away on February 28th, 2023 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

John was born on April 30th, 1940 to William and Marion Rainwater in Cold Springs, New York. He grew up mostly in Little Rock, AR before joining the U.S. Navy, where he proudly served as a boilerman on Navy destroyer ships for almost 4 years. He spent his post military years in California, where he re-connected with family members, worked on furthering his education and learned many trades, like arc welding, heating & air conditioning and became a machinist. He married Kristine Rainwater in 1967 in Santa Monica, CA. They later moved to Little Rock, AR to buy a house and start a family. John worked for Timex for several years then started his long career as a machinist/mechanic & tool maker with Maybelline, Loreal USA where he retired in 2005. John lived a full life with hobbies including photography, community theater, classical music, writing poetry, swimming, bicycling, running, golfing, camping, hiking, landscaping, education and volunteering. He was a devoted husband and loving father to his two daughters, Rebecca and Audrey and many family pets. John was an avid Los Angeles Angels & Arkansas Razorback fan, SCAN volunteer, acted in and produced several plays with the Community Theater of Little Rock, KLRE FM public radio supporter and wedding photographer. He loved the outdoors, science and the cosmos. He was loved by his family, many friends and co-workers throughout his long life and positively impacted the lives of everyone he had an interesting and witty conversation with.

John was preceded in death by his father, William Rainwater and mother, Marion Rainwater-Richards. His brother, Robert Rainwater and sister, Janet Rainwater; stepmother, Mary Cozad; stepsister, Donna Cox and nephew, Aidan O'Grady.

John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kristine Rainwater; sisters, Kaye Forrest and Linda Thacker; brother, Joel Richards; daughters, Rebecca Lowe, Audrey Rainwater; granddaughter, Natalie Leopard; nieces, Jennifer Oberling, Kim O'Grady and nephews, Joe Rainwater and Michael Jordan and several grand-nieces and nephews.

It was John's desire to donate his body to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, for medical research and education. The family will have a private memorial at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents at Briarwood Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Little Rock, AR and Gentiva Hospice for their great love, care and friendship to John for the past year. In lieu of flowers or donations, "do something kind for someone else today and don't tell anyone about it", one of the many original quotes by John.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Drummond Funeral Home
10900 Interstate 30
Little Rock, AR  72209
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com