August 21, 1974 – May 24, 2024
Bill Raines, 49, of Bedford, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2024. He was born in Bedford on August 21, 1974, the son of Bill and Melody (Patten) Raines.
Bill was employed at Walmart from 1990 to 1998, the Martin County Ambulance Service from 1998 to 2002, Kroger from 2002 to 2017, and WBIW 1340. In 2021, he started his own media business, the Lawrence County Zephyr, which he faithfully operated until his death.
Bill was active in community service by being on the Indian Creek Volunteer Fire Department, the former Williams VFD, and Perry VFD.
He was a past president of the Lawrence County Firefighter Association and served as the Hoosier Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross Chapter Chairman from 2008 to 2010. Bill was also an Advanced-EMT from 1998 to 2007.
Throughout the years, Bill received various community service awards from the Walmart Foundation for
Community Service, Kroger Corporation Community Service Award in 2010, and the Life Saving Award
from the Daughters of the American Revolution for saving a 10-month-old child. While serving as the
As president of the Lawrence County Fire Association, he placed defibrillators in every fire station in Lawrence County, contributing to saving countless lives.
He was Pastor of the House of Prayer Church in Fayetteville and had also served as a lay minister for
several years.
His family includes brothers Tim and Melinda Raines and Steve and Kim Raines; sisters Denise and Morris Stephens and Sharon King; six nieces and a nephew nieces; and great-nieces and nephews.
His parents, Bill and Melody Raines; maternal grandparents Leonard and Alice (Huggins) Patten; and paternal grandparents Henry and Reba (Baker) Raines preceded him in death.
Funeral services for Bill A. Raines will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. at the Ferguson- Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes in Bedford with Bro. Keith Thompson is officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, also at the Ferguson-Lee Chapel.
Memorial contributions can be made to Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services instead of flowers in Bill’s memory.
Memories and condolences can be shared online at www.FergusonLee.com.
