Edwin Raineri

Edwin Anthony Raineri, Lieutenant Colonel USAF (Retired) went to be with our Lord on November 24, 2024. A Rosary will be recited at 9 am followed by the celebration Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am on December 6, 2024 at St. Jerome Catholic Church with Rev.James Ekeocha officiating. Tony will be laid to rest in the St. Jerome Columbarium.

Tony was born in Washington, DC, on November 7, 1942, to Peter J. Raineri and Helen M. McDaniel. The son of a State Department Foreign Service Officer, Tony’s early childhood was spent in Asuncion, Paraguay, Brownsville, TX, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Brazil, and Arlington, Virginia. It was in Arlington that he met his “bride” of 59 years, Claire.

After graduating from high school, Tony attended Texas A&M where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. He graduated in 1966 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Tony attended pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. Upon completion of flight training in 1968, he was assigned to the 362nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, Pleiku Air Force Base, South Vietnam, flying the EC-47 Reconnaissance aircraft. Returning from that tour of duty in 1969, he was assigned to the 917th Air Refueling Squadron at Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX, flying the KC-135 aircraft. Tony served as Standboard copilot, aircraft commander, and instructor pilot while at Dyess AFB. He flew over 140 missions in support of Arc Light, Young Tiger, and Bullet Shot operations in Southeast Asia. In 1973 he was assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York flying the FB-111. He served as aircraft commander until selected to cross-train into the Command Control field. He became the primary aircrew and controller trainer and went on to become Chief, Command Control Division. In 1981 he was transferred to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Omaha, Nebraska, as Emergency Action Controller in the Command Center, Chief, Standardization Evaluation Branch, and Chief, Emergency Actions Division. In 1985 Tony was assigned to the National Emergency Airborne Command Post where he headed the Command Control Section and became the Command Center Operations Chief.

Tony retired from the USAF in 1988 after 22 years of service to his country. As a Command Pilot he had over 3,000 flying hours including over 1,500 combat hours. His medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross with one OLC, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one OLC, Air Medal with nine OLCs, Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal with two OLCs, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five Bronze Stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After retiring from the Air Force, Tony and Claire moved to Waco in 1989 where he was employed at L-3 Communications for 14 years. After his second retirement in 2003 he devoted his time, talents, and treasures to St. Jerome Catholic Church where he volunteered as the Director of Stewardship for 10 years and was on many ministries. Tony was instrumental in starting the Knights of Columbus Council 13005 at St. Jerome. He was Financial Secretary and Grand Knight of Council 13005, a 4th Degree Knight and member of Assembly 1109, District Deputy for District 111, and Assistant Diocesan Deputy for Austin.

Tony was predeceased in death by his parents, his in-laws Preston and Leonora Davis, his brother, Peter J. Raineri, Jr., sister, Patricia Schuppe, brother-in-law Donald Rouleau, and sister-in-law Mary Patrice Raineri. He is survived by his wife, Claire, two sons Eddy and wife, Missy, and Joe and wife, Kristi, four very special grandchildren, Regan Nicole and Ryan Edwin, Jordan Ann and Kolby Luck, sisters-in-law Patricia Rouleau of Virginia, brother-in-law, David Schuppe, of Hewitt, nieces Debbi Johnson and husband, David, of Virginia, Ashley Johnson of South Carolina, Kristen Hughes and husband Preston of Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jerome Knights of Columbus Council 13005, 9820 Chapel Rd. Waco, TX 76712, or charity of your choice.