Dateline: November 30, 2006

Paul Cecil Rhinehart was born September 12, 1926, in Fonde, Kentucky.  He died on Monday, November 20, 2006, at the age of 80.

During World War II, he was a Combat Air Crewman (CAC) in the United States Navy serving in the Pacific, European, and American Theaters.  He earned seven battle stars and the Navy Air Medal.  His Patrol Squadron VP-15 received a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Saipan campaign.  His patriotism was of the highest order.

He was a self-employed businessman for most of his life and lived at various times in Wallins Creek, Loyall, and Sukey Ridge, Kentucky; Detroit, Michigan; Alamogordo, New Mexico; and Lake Sam Rayburn, Texas.  He and Ruth and their family came to Amarillo in 1962.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Lillian Ruth Howard Rhinehart, who died in 1996, and by his five brothers.  Cecil was born from above shortly after he married his beloved Ruth.

Those surviving include a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Thomas Moss of Amarillo; two sons and daughters-in-law Michael and Suzie Rhinehart of Clarendon, Texas: and John and Leslie Rhinehart of Alta Loma, California; eight grandchildren, Shawn, Bryan, Gannon, Amanda, and Ethan Rhinehart, Sage Jackson, and Jason and Jaret Moss.