Kenneth Paul Rains

Kenneth Paul Rains passed away to his heavenly home December 13, 2022, in Irving Texas, from complications of prostate cancer.

He was born in Emlyn, Kentucky to Lula Mae and Robert (Bob) Hiram Rains and attended high school and Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY.
Kenneth was drafted into the army and served with the ASA (Army Security Agency).

Kenneth met the love of his life, Waltraud, in Goeppingen Germany. Following his military service, he returned to the United States with his wife and daughter, Dagmar.

He worked for the electric company in Covington KY for a year and returned to Williamsburg with his family to complete his education. History and Political Science were his passions and he graduated with a B.S. Always a planner, he acquired an additional teaching certificate (just to have something to fall back on).

Among his accomplishments were land surveyor, school principal, teacher, Optician, Ophthalmic assistant, business owner and candidate for Congress. He was a true Kentuckian and patriot serving polling stations as a young man and never missed voting even during his military time abroad and during his recent illness.

More than anything, he was a strong, intelligent, sympathetic, warmhearted, and independent man with a huge heart. Ken was a great son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, father figure, uncle, soldier, neighbor, and friend; ever present in the lives of his family and friends with an open ear. Kenneth had a memory “like an elephant” and his beloved family and friends experienced many stories from the past told in a way that only he could tell it. His devotion to his family was not just skin deep…it went to the bone.

He was the hunter and gatherer that always took care of their needs. He scrimped and saved his whole life, lived authentically, traveled throughout the world, and loved his family. His legacy lives on through us.

He stressed before his passing the importance of not only saving for a rainy day, but also living life to its fullest. Ken is preceded in heaven by his parents, and nine brothers and sisters including his beloved little brother and partner, Dr. Darrel E. Rains, MD.

He leaves his darling wife, Waltraud, daughter Dagmar Metzler with husband Martin and his beloved nieces and nephews in the States and in Germany. A cremation will take place in North Texas through the Neptune Society with a celebration of life at a later date.

Donations in his name can be made to Boys Town and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, organizations that were very dear to his heart.