John Kenton Rains

May 25, 1924 – August 5, 2020

John Kenton Rains passed away peacefully on August 5th, 2020 at Avow Hospice, in Naples, Florida. At 96, this WWII veteran lived a long and fulfilled life. In preparing his obituary, his family decided to use this self-written history of his life, as the best way to communicate what was important to him. He wrote this when he was being recognized at his church:

"When I was 3, my father died of pneumonia. My sister and I were placed in a boarding school in New York City. They had no kindergarten, so I was placed with the first graders where I learned to read and write at the age of 3. After the crash of 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression, I was fortunate to have two aunts who assisted my mother in our upbringing. Mostly, my young life consisted of one school after another (10 in all) throughout the country, until I graduated high school at the age of 15.

Lying about my age, I began to work as a bank teller and henceforth was completely on my own. Until 18, I attended night school in New York City, saving enough money to provide one year at Antioch College in Ohio. Before that year was completed, I enlisted in the Army during WWII and served more than three years. I was in combat throughout northern France and Germany as an Infantry machine gunner. I earned the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, and the French Legion of Honor. When I was wounded, and in the hospital, an Army chaplain asked me if I had prayed in the foxholes. I told him, “We all did.” He told me something I have never forgotten – “Don't use God as a spare tire.” God was with me then and will be always.

Upon discharge, I resumed my studies at Antioch and graduated in 1950 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. For several years I worked as a design and manufacturing engineer in Lima, Ohio, where, by chance, I met a lovely Cuban girl on a visit to her sister. She taught classes in home economics at the University of Havana. A whirlwind courtship culminated in a wonderful marriage which lasted over 54 years until her death.

In 1955 we moved to White Plains, NY where I started a company to make two types of swimming pools I had designed and patented. The company was highly successful, with sales through a network of distributors in the US and internationally. We raised two lovely daughters, Nancy, who is a Methodist minister in Naples FL, and Sue, who together with her husband, manage their rental properties in Cape Coral, FL. They gave us four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

In 1974 I sold the business and retired to Florida. Here, Rosa and I established a retail fabric business which we ran for several years. From 1981, until retiring again in 1992, I worked for Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board where I was Supervisor of Surface and Stormwater Management. In retirement, I continued to be active in the town of Lake Placid Florida, where I served as Master of the Masonic Lodge and Distinguished President of the Kiwanis Club. I was active in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Audubon Society.

A year after the death of Rosa I met, fell in love with and married Carol, a lovely widow. This opened a whole new vista. In my remaining years, I was active in the Cape Coral Masonic Lodge and with the Araba Shriners. We traveled extensively. Through Carol I became a member of the Fort Myers Christian Church, which in many ways was like a home to us." ....John Kenton Rains

John’s wife, Carol, passed away right after Hurricane Irma and John moved to Assisted Living at the Carlisle, in Naples. Here, he made many new friends playing poker and sharing meals in the dining hall. He will be missed by many here but greeted by many more on the other side! He was preceded in death by his infant son, Richard Rains, his first wife, Rosa, of 54 years, his second wife, Carol, of 10 years and his sister, Zerelda Hervey. He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Mayeux (John) and Sue Lundberg (Richard); his grandchildren Lauren Mayeux, Tricia Oberton (Selby), Michelle Manion (Joe), and Kevin Lundberg; and his great-grandchildren, Maliah, Jayden, Anya and Aiden. He also had many nieces and nephews that he cared about. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He truly blessed many lives. The family is not planning a service due to the pandemic.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity or do something special for a neighbor or friend in John’s name.