Feb. 15, 1956 – Oct. 29, 2013
Thomas Russell Rinehart, 57, of Sweet Home died Oct. 29, 2013 after a brief illness.
He was born Feb. 15, 1956 in Moscow, Idaho to Harvey and Joyce (Moffitt) Rinehart.
His family lived in Idaho and Wisconsin, before moving to Sweet Home in 1962. He attended Sweet Home Public Schools, graduating in 1974.
Mr. Rinehart worked at Lester’s Shingle Mill for 25 years as a shingle packer. He later earned a degree in electronics repair and owned and operated TCR Electronics, doing computer and television repair. He married Cyndi Conrad June 27, 1980.
He enjoyed auto racing, fishing and hunting. He was very close to completing the restoration of the family fishing boat and was looking forward to future fishing trips, when he became sick.
Mr. Rinehart was also an avid “N” scale model railroader, having built from scratch an intricate model railroad set, complete with handmade buildings, trees and scenery. He was a perfectionist, and if the building project wasn’t up to his specifications, he would start again from scratch.
He enjoyed yearly family camping and fishing trips. As his children grew up and found jobs, they would schedule their vacation time so the whole family could go camping together each summer. He was also adept at carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, electronics – you name it, he could do it. He truly was a jack of all trades. Tom was proud of his family, and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Rinehart is survived by his wife Cyndi; daughters Heather of Sweet Home, and Kathy and son-in-law Justice Gibson of Albany; sons Robert and fiance Nicki Ailshire, Billy, and Donald, all of Albany, and David of Sweet Home; one grandson; mother, Joyce Jones of Eugene; sister Brenda and husband Dennis Donin of Beaverton, and numerous nephews, a great-niece, aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Harvey, in 1986; brother Joe in 1996; and son-in-law Richard Porter in July of 2013.
Mr. Rinehart wanted a small graveside service for family and friends, which was held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at Lewis Creek Cemetery. Light snacks was available at the Holley Christian Church directly after the graveside service.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.