Jerry A. Rainwater, 82, passed away Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at Cedar Creek Living Center. He was born May 9, 1925, in Muskogee, OK, the son of W.I. and Vera (West) Rainwater. He is survived by his twin brother, Jeral D. Rainwater of Gillette, WY; nephews, David and Dennis Rainwater of Houston, TX; and niece, Ellen Robison, of Gillette, WY. In addition, Jerry is survived by an aunt and numerous loving cousins, all of whom maintained contact and support during his final battle with cancer. An older brother, Bill Rainwater, of Little Rock, AR, preceded him in death, as did his parents who lived in Tulsa, OK.

Following graduation from Tulsa's Will Roger High School in 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and served in the Twentieth Air Force Headquarters in Guam. Following separation from the service in February 1946, Jerry attended college, earning a Bachelors degree in Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. His early teaching career was mostly in the Tulsa Public School System, serving as an instructor as well as an administrator. Later he obtained a Master's degree at the University of Wisconsin and a Doctorate at the University of Oklahoma, after which he taught at the college level. Jerry was on the staff of Eastern New Mexico University, Texas Tech. and Oklahoma University. He was an adjunct professor during summer terms at colleges in Montana and Canada. He was active in several professional societies related to teaching reading skills and co-authored several text books. He was a proud and loyal member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, having been initiated as a charter member of Epsilon Mu Chapter at the University of Tulsa in 1947.

During his retirement years, Jerry became interested in duplicate bridge and eventually became a certified director in the ACBL. He remained a bachelor throughout life and it will be remembered that he devoted much time to the care and assistance of his parents, brother, Bill, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, September 15, 2007, at Havenbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Norman. A graveside service of his cremated remains will be held at 1:00 P.M., Monday, September 17, 2007, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, OK.

Send condolences online at http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm.