Charles Edmond Raines

Charles Edmond Raines, 87, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great grandfather, and husband, passed into his eternal reward on June 26, 2023 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Born May 23, 1936 in Walnut Grove, Georgia to Ruby Marvin Raines and Jessie Lee Raines, 

Charles, or “Chuck”, grew up farming with his parents, three brothers and two sisters. While the oldest brother went off to fight in World War II, the younger brothers helped with trapping, hunting, and farming. Charles once placed second in the youth category for “growing the most corn per acre.” Charles enjoyed school. One of his favorite memories was when the boys out-cooked the girls in a high school cookoff. Charles loved visiting his brothers and sisters throughout his life. As an unmarried serviceman, Charles drove to several states for weekend visits with his sisters, brothers, and their families. Great memories continued when Charles drove his own family to visit his brothers and sisters in several states. He was great at navigating through back roads to get to his destination.

Charles’ second marriage was to Mary Jean Bacas. They met at a roller-skating rink in downtown Denver, their courtship culminating into their marriage on April 16th, 1966. They spent their honeymoon in Hawaii.  For the next 57 years, Mary and Charles raised their family across the United States and England as they moved with Charles’s deployments.

Charles loved his family and children. When his children were young, Charles would join them in the yard for baseball, cartwheels, front-flips with no hands, back-flips with hands, and handstands. Charles attended St. Jude’s Episcopal Church with his family and stayed involved with the church for decades. Charles would take the children fishing and swimming.  He loved taking ‘the boys’ possum hunting. Charles would roller skate with the children as he roller-skated arm-in-arm with his wife. Charles built a ‘quarter-pipe’ in the backyard for the youngest teenager’s bicycling tricks.

Charles loved animals, especially dogs. Raising farm animals, Charles learned to handle many animals. Charles rarely met a dog he couldn’t pet and rescued many dogs. On his last birthday, he held and petted a rescue kitten for over twenty minutes which amazed the nurses and staff.

Charles had several hobbies including fishing, yard work, and flying small planes. Fishing off local bridges and in the Gulf, Charles kept the freezer full of fish. When the children were young, Charles purchased a boat and made many memories with the family fishing and boating in the Gulf. Charles frequently caught the largest fish and the biggest catch of any person on the fishing trip. He could fish! More than one descendent learned how to fish from him and will continue his legacy. Charles kept up his yard with pride and precision. You could place a level on the top of his bushes! He installed his own sprinkler system in his own yard as well as in the yards of two other homes. His love of flying started early on in his military career when he enrolled in flying lessons for small, civilian aircraft. After pausing his lessons to raise his family, he returned to flying lessons and earned visual then IFR ratings. The family enjoyed flying over the Gulf and across the country in small planes with Dad. 

Other hobbies included ‘treasure hunting’ with metal detectors and photography. The family ‘treasure hunted’ in fields and on beaches. Treasured memories are the valuable possessions found from the time spent together on the hunts. Charles also taught his children and grandchildren how to play checkers and chess. Most became excellent players, but could rarely beat Dad/Grandpa.   

Charles cherished belonging to the DAV and served once as Vice President of the local chapter.  During his membership, he helped the local chapter support Col Day in passing legislation to benefit veterans. He also built wheelchair ramps and provided help in many projects that benefited disabled veterans. 

Charles loved a good joke and getting funny cards in the mail. Charles loved telling stories of his childhood and of his time in the military. He always had a story to tell, including stories about the family, fishing, chickens, dogs, snakes, fish, aircraft, traveling, France, North Africa, the military, and many other topics.

Charles loved helping others, the community, and those in need. He helped the community approach the City Council and requested the water treatment plant be relocated. He was instrumental in the relocation of the plant and the development of the new park in Ocean City. He also assisted refugees through the church in the 1970’s.

Charles loved serving his country for 23 years in the Air Force. He first served in Strategic Air Command (SAC). He achieved the rank of TSGT, cross-trained in several Military Occupational Specialties, trained in aviation electronics, and worked on weapons control systems for B47 Stratojets, F86 Sabres, F100 Super Sabres, and F4 Phantoms (C, D, and E). His favorite work involved trouble-shooting and repairing radar for the F4s.  He served in France, North Africa, Vietnam, and England. Stateside, he was stationed in Columbus, Ohio, George AFB in California, and Eglin AFB. He was very proud to receive the coveted United States Air Force Commendation Medal for his projects in Vietnam.

Charles was a hard worker who worked a variety of jobs before and after his military career, including nickel-plating, tree-cutting, owning a business, and working as a licensed contractor.  His work at a nickel-plating plant proved valuable during his time in Vietnam when an emergency arose and cosmoline grease encasing a load of rifles needed to be removed immediately and quickly for all of the soldiers. As a young man, Charles could climb the highest trees for the city of Atlanta and cut the trees. His most eventful climb occurred over the panther enclosure at the Atlanta Zoo where the cats climbed alongside him and eyed him as he cut limbs out of the nearby tree. Charles built and remodeled houses with precision. He saw problems and searched out solutions. His work still stands across the Panhandle.   

Charles is survived by his children, Eva (Roland) Thron, Kathy (Karl) Bush, Charles Raines Jr., Bronco (Anne) Van Vors, Carrie Feuser, and Bill (Betty) Raines. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Donna Wood, Candra (Eddie) Connick, Seth Bush, Jacob (Jennifer) Bush, Jeanell Thron, Nathanael Bush, Kelsey (Miah) Williams, Jesse Bush, Caleb (Sarah) Raines, and Dylan (Katherine) Raines. Great-Grandchildren are Hunter Wood, Caden Bennet, Rini Osborne, Emily Bennett, Maci Williams, Ember Raines, and Gavin Williams. He was also blessed with Great-Great Grandchild Rylee Wood. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jean; his parents; brothers Fred, Ashley, and Buck; sisters Catherine and Margaret; great grandson Kayden Raines; and beloved nieces and nephews.

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