Donald Rainwater

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 8, at First United Methodist Church, for Donald Lee Rainwater, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Rainwater, 64, died Monday, May 5, 2008 at his home. Rev. Paul Dean Duerksen will officiate at the services. Cremation will take place under direction of Terpening Son Mortuary. Pallbearers will be Paul Groh, John Groh, Rebazar Groh, Todd Forster, Andrew Groh, and Gary Fanning Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Kidd, Dennis Tidwell, Jack Butler, Wayne Smith, Bobby Harrison, Jimmy Liles, Bill McGeachy, Leonard Witcher, Ed Patterson, Arturo Gonzalez, Lester Wright, and all other fishing and coffee drinking friends. Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary beginning at 10 am. Wednesday Mr. Rainwater was born October 7, 1943 in Artesia, New Mexico; the son of Sterling Rainwater and Maggie Arzeala Younger Rainwater. On June 23, 1984 he was married to Rita Zalewski Groh in Artesia. He was a longtime Eddy County resident. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 8 years including a year in Vietnam. He was a truck driver and ran The Odd Shop for many years. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1962 and was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., D.A.V., and past member of the Vietnam Veteran's Association. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Stanley, and sons Danny and David. Survivors include his wife Rita Rainwater of the family home; sons Paul Groh and wife Bekki of Artesia, John Groh of Farmington, N.M., and Rebazar Groh of Eagle Rock, Calif.; daughters Mary Fanning and husband Gary of Artesia, Judy Groh of Phoenix, Arizona, Irene Forster and husband Todd of Glendale, Arizona, and Debbie Wilkinson and husband Steve of Alamogordo, N.M.; brother Ron Rainwater and wife Marge of Carlsbad; sisters Winifred Stockton and husband Mel of Austin, Texas, Sue Rupe and husband Al of Red Oak, Texas, Marlene Weisheit of Houston, Texas, and Tempie Cline of Garland, Texas; 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; uncle Leroy Younger and wife Dorothy of Artesia; numerous nieces and nephews.