Robert J. "Bob" Rainey, 77: Communicant of St. Mary's Church, Bristol

Robert J. "Bob" Rainey, 77, of Hope Street, Bristol, died peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Marilyn E. (Stratton) Rainey, his wife of 57 years. Born in Warren and a lifelong resident of Bristol, he was a son of the late Joseph Henry "Hank" and Evalina (Gagnon) Rainey.

Mr. Rainey served in the US Coast Guard during the Korean Conflict. Bob graduated from the RI Technical School with a degree in Electrical Engineering and later received his Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from the Open Division School of Roger Williams University. He was a Manufacturing Manager for the Raytheon Corp in North Dighton, MA, Waltham, MA and then in Portsmouth, RI for 30 years, retiring in 1993. He started his work career at the former Bristol Manufacturing Company in Bristol.

Bob was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, Bristol and a former communicant of St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and Confirmation Teacher and had attended the Diocese of Providence program for Permanent Deaconal Ministry.

Following his retirement, he volunteered and worked part time at the Ocean Tides School in Narragansett and was a volunteer court appointed advocate for troubled young people for a number of years.

An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he was a member, and the recording secretary for a number of years, for the East Warren Rod and Gun Club in Warren.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Robert J. Rainey, Jr and his wife, Joyce of Narragansett, Michael J. Rainey of Los Angeles, CA, Douglas J. Rainey of Warren and Patricia M. Patterson and her husband, Matthew of Scituate, seven grandchildren, Jason Crawley, Melanie Higgins, Crystal, Jessica and Magdalena Rainey, Emily and Laura Patterson, a sister, Irene Dunbar of Bristol and many great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, James W. Rainey and a daughter, Thereasa Rainey, a grandson, Andrew Patterson, four brothers, Henry, Edward, Russell and Roland Rainey and two sisters, Eva West and Marie Rose Calderiso.

Funeral services from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood St., Bristol, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013 at 9 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 330 Wood St., Bristol. Burial with Military Honors will follow in North Burial Ground, Hope Street, Bristol.

Visiting hours will be Friday, Aug. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Home and Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 or online at www.hhcri.net.