Obit: Thomas R. "Buddy" Rinehart, Jr., Lincoln Parish, LA Submitted by: Dorothy Rinehart Taylor, 111 Racove Drive, West Monroe, LA 71291 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Wednesday, August 12, 1998 THOMAS R. "BUDDY" RINEHART, JR. Kilpatrick Funeral Home Ruston, Louisiana DOUGLAS, LA - Services for Thomas R. "Buddy" Rinehart, Jr. 48, of Douglas will be on Wednesday, August 12, 1998 at 10:00 A.M. at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston with Rev. Raymond Crowfoot officiating. Interment will be in the Douglas Cemetery. Mr. Rinehart died Sunday, August 9, 1998 in Douglas, following an accident on his farm doing what he loved most. Mr. Rinehart graduated from Choudrant High School in 1968. He was a Vietnam veteran. Mr. Rinehart was also a graduate of Louisiana Tech. He was preceded in death by his father, Tom R. Rinehart, Sr. and his beloved grandmother, Mama Lou Hennen. Mr. Rinehart is survived by his daughters: Shea Rinehart of Choudrant, Erica Rinehart of Little Rock, AR; son: Tom Rinehart of New Iberia, LA; stepson: Jeremy Cooper of Ruston; mother: Willie Dean Rinehart of Ruston; five sisters: Dorothy Taylor and husband Joe of West Monroe, LA; Johnnie Ellis of Ruston, Tommie Ann Webb and husband, Ernest of Choudrant, Sybil Woodard of West Monroe, Jeanette Crouch and husband, Jim of Choudrant; aunt: Lucille Holstead of Choudrant; uncle: John Hennen of West Monroe; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pallbearers will be Chuck Rinehart, Bobby Rinehart, Bubba Hamilton, Wayne Henry, Waylon Walding, Bill Beasley, and J. R. Jones. Honorary Pallbearers will be Noel Brown, Larry Myers, Gary Leachman, Joe Sherrard, Harold Staples, Fred Lamar, Dr. Rel Gray, Robert Rinehart, Bert Rinehart, and Paul Collins. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 1998 at the funeral home in Ruston. - - - - - - - - - - - - EULOGY Thomas Roy "Buddy" Rinehart Father - Son - "Little Brother" - Friend Who was "Buddy" Rinehart? "Buddy" was the father of three lovely children Shea Rinehart, Erica Rinehart, and Tom Rinehart and a stepson, Jeremy Cooper. Buddy was a proud father who adored his children and enjoyed bragging on them to anyone who would listen. Who was "Buddy" Rinehart? Buddy was a member of Douglas United Methodist Church which he joined on July 30, 1964. He was a graduate of Choudrant High School, where he was loved by his teachers and friends. Buddy joined the army and saw action while overseas during the Vietnam War. Upon his honorable discharge he returned home and graduated from La. Tech with an associate degree in petroleum engineering - but his love for country living and the Douglas Community kept him close to the home in which he grew up. Although Buddy worked for an Oil & Gas Company - his real love was for his home and farm - where he raised chickens, cows and horses. In death he was doing what he loved most - riding his tractor and keeping his farm in tip top condition. Who was "Buddy" Rinehart? He was the son of Tom and Willie Dean (Hennen) Rinehart - loaned to them by God on November 2, 1949 into a house full of older sisters - Dorothy, Johnnie, Tommie, Sybil and Jeanette and a loving maternal grandmother - "Mama Lou" Hennen. Buddy was a loveable - mischievous child who brought more love and laughter into our home. He had an outgoing personality and seldom if ever met a stranger. Who was "Buddy" Rinehart? Buddy was a - father - a son - a friend - and from the very beginning until the very end - "A Little Brother" to his five older sisters. God loaned Buddy to us for almost forty nine years and on August 9, 1998 he was met with open arms by God - and his loved ones who walked the path before him. Who Was Buddy Rinehart? He was "Our Dad" - "Our Son" - "Our Little Brother" - "Our Uncle" - "Our Cousin" - and "Our Friend" and although our hearts are heavy with grief and sadness - we know that he has gone before us to Mow the weeds - and that his father - his grandparents and other loved ones are preparing a home for those he has left behind here on earth. Buddy - "Little Brother" - we will miss you - and our grief is almost unbearable - but we will cherish your memory of the love and happiness you brought into our home and it won't be long before we join you in that promised land. "Dear Dad - Son - "Little Brother" - Uncle - Cousin and Friend - our hearts are heavy with sadness - but we will meet you someday - in the promised land. By Dorothy Rinehart Taylor