Stephen Meade Rinard

Stephen Meade Rinard passed away Sunday, October 21, 2007. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 29, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, October 30, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. A military burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Stephen Meade Rinard was born in Breckenridge, Texas on July 7, 1942 to Meade Withington and Ella Agnes Rinard. Steve attended East Ward Elementary, Breckenridge Junior High School, and Breckenridge High School. He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1960. As a young man, Steve attended Camp Stewart in Hunt, Texas for three years. At age 14, from 1956-1960, he worked for the Safeway Grocery Store in Breckenridge. After graduation, Steve and his four close friends, Sam Rogers, Joe Provenza, Eddie Clark, and Jimmy Frasier, left June 17, 1960 on a 12,000 mile, two month trip through the western United States, Canada, and Alaska. Traveling in a 4-wheel drive double cab international truck, equipped with a 9-foot cabin, they fulfilled a 4-year ambition first begun when they were freshmen. Steve graduated from the University of Texas in 1965 with a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration. While at the University of Texas, from 1961-1965, he was a Committee Clerk for the House of Representatives in Austin, Texas. On November 19, 1966, Steve married Carolyn Eunelle Short in Abilene, Texas. From 1966 to 1967, Steve worked for his father in Breckenridge as an Independent Oil Operator. In 1967, they moved to Monahans, Texas where Steve worked for Dowell Chemical. From 1967 to 1969, Steve worked for Titches-Goettinger as a men's clothing buyer in Dallas, Texas. From 1969 to 1976, Steve was a buyer and manager for the Minter's Department Stores in downtown, River Oaks, and Sweetwater, Texas. During this time, Steve became a member of the Rotary Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He received many awards including JC of the year in 1973. From 1974 to 1975, Steve attended Hardin-Simmons University and obtained his Business Composite teacher certification. In 1976, Steve became a teacher in the Vocational (Career and Technology) Department at Abilene High School. He also taught AP (Honors) Economics at Abilene High School. Abilene High School made Steve an honorary member of their Future Farmers of America chapter. From 1977 to 1978, he received a Career Technology Certification from Texas A&M University. Concurrently with teaching at Abilene High School, he taught in the evenings at Cisco Junior College. He was the Department Chair of the Career and Technology Department until his retirement in 2006. He loved Abilene High School, Royce Curtis, Terry Bull, and faculty of the Career and Technology Department so very much. Steve and Carolyn were Cooper High School band officers from 1987 to 1991 and from 1996 to 2000. They were band treasurers and accompanied the Cooper Band to both the Rose Bowl Parade in 1990 and to Hawaii in 2000. Steve was an ardent supporter of both Abilene High School and Cooper High School athletic programs for many years. In 1991, Steve became a loyal supporter of Baylor University and the Baylor Bears. He attended all sporting events for Baylor. Watching Cowboy football and Texas Ranger baseball were his favorite weekend activities. Steve's favorite summers for 26 years were family vacations spent in motor homes, travel trailers, and National Lodges in the state parks of Texas and the National Parks. Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon National Parks were his very favorites. Steve spent 21 total years in the military. He joined the Texas National Guard in Breckenridge and spent 10 years in Field Artillery. He then transferred to the 490th Civil Affairs Unit of the Army Reserve in Abilene and spent 11 years. He was a Fire Directions Supply and Operations Staff Sergeant earning the rank of E7. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1987 and 1989. He retired from Active to Retired Reserves in January of 1989. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Kenneth Cameron Short and mother-in-law, Ila Belle Brewer Short. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carolyn Eunelle Short Rinard, daughter Lynlee Ila Rinard Ridley and husband Philip Lynn Ridley, son Cameron Stephen Rinard, grandson Reed Stephen Ridley, and granddaughter Caroline Oneal Ridley, brother-in-law Kenneth Cameron Short II, sister-in-law Kathee Short, all of Abilene, Texas, sister Lucinda Dollins of Conroe, nieces Renee Saldana and Monique Saldana of Houston, and nephew Ryan Dollins of Houston. Pallbearers will be: Dr. David Polnick, Hubert Pickett Jr., Terry Bull, Gail Gregg, Pat Donahue, John McAden, Don Summers, and Russell Ellison all of Abilene, Texas. Honorary Pall Bearers will be: Jimmy Partin, Eddie Brady, Jack North, Jason Barrett, Tom Cunningham, John Baird, John Goline, Sherry James, Walter Morrow, Beth Peables, Kay Richards, Connie Ross, Cara Sue Sitton, Keith Thomas, and Bill Tittle all of Abilene, Texas Memorial donations may be made in honor of Stephen Meade Rinard to the Abilene Education Foundation, 241 Pine Street, Abilene, Texas 79601; Rescue the Animals, 5933 South 1st Street, Abilene, Texas 79605; Arise and Build Campaign: Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer, Abilene, Texas 79605; or Love and Care Ministries for Mission Thanksgiving, 233 Fannin, Abilene, Texas 79603.