Charles E. Rains

RAINS -- Charles E., age 61, of Tulsa, OK, died on Thursday, March 9, 2006. Charles ("Chuck") was known and respected nationally as an authority on Estate Tax Law and Planning, International Law, and Corporate Law. An accomplished speaker, he appeared before the Arizona Federal Estate Tax Institute, Kansas City Federal Tax Symposium, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Offshore Trust Services, Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa County Bar Association, and others. He was a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Oklahoma and Tulsa County Bar Associations. Chuck was known for his sense of humor. He was also known for his sense of adventure and the outdoors, which led to the formation of "Camp Chuck," an informal group of outdoor enthusiasts around the country interested in hiking, rafting, bicycling and other adventures, and which can be accessed on the internet site www.campchuck.com. Travels pursuing various interests and in fulfillment of his legal career led him to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Machu Picchu, Egypt, throughout Europe and Scandinavia, the second base camp of Mount Everest, Wheeler Peak in New Mexico and various other challenging locations. Chuck was born in Orlando, FL on November 24, 1944, where his father was stationed in the Air Force. After his father left the service, the family moved to Krebs, OK, where his father was the Postmaster and his mother was a Music Teacher. Chuck attended the University of Oklahoma and received a B.B.A. in Accounting in 1966. He then obtained his Law degree in 1968 from the University of Texas. Chuck served as an Air Force JAG officer with the rank of Captain, working as a Lawyer in the Judge Advocate's office, He was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA and in Greenland, where he played chess with Russians across the North Pole by ham radio. In 1970, he married Roberta "Bobbie" Dixon. After discharge from the Air Force, Chuck received an L.L.M. in International Law from the London School of Economics. Upon returning to the United States, Chuck clerked for Lee West at the Civil Aeronautics Board. While in Washington, Chuck obtained an L.L.M. in Taxation from George Washington University in 1977. In 1979, Chuck practiced with the Law Firm of Hall, Estill, Golden, Gable and Nelson in Tulsa, OK. Much of that time was spent overseas handling international law issues for The Williams Companies and other clients in Egypt, Ireland, and other countries. Later, Chuck practiced Law with the Law Firms of Sutin, Thayer & Browne in New Mexico, Crowe & Dunlevy and Conner & Winters in Tulsa, OK, and Streich Lang in Arizona. For the last 5 years, Chuck was a principal of the Tulsa firm Rains & Saunders. Chuck is survived by his daughter, Allison Rains, age 29, who lives in Tulsa, OK. Allison suffers from Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (see www.rsds.orq for more information), a pain related disability. Donations on behalf of Chuck and to benefit Allison Rains can be made to the Chuck Rains Memorial Trust, and may be sent to any Bank of Oklahoma location. A Memorial service honoring Chuck's life was held 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2006, at the Hope Unitarian Church in Tulsa, OK, officiated by the Reverend Ron Robinson.