Roger Rainbolt

EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.

The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.

This week’s conversation is with Saint Philip’s parishioner and volunteer, Roger Rainbolt.

How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
I think it’s been 12 years now—ever since my wife, Jeannine, and I moved to Tucson from Illinois full-time.

What attracted you initially?
That the parish seemed dynamic and that we were welcomed.

On one of our early visits, we attended the Sunday breakfast that was offered. I wanted to see what would happen if we sat at a table where no one else was so that’s what we did. In no time at all we were joined by parishioner, Raymond Dewey…and the rest is history.

How would you describe Saint Philip’s to someone unfamiliar with the parish?
A lively place to worship. A place where your talents are actively encouraged to be put to use. And where you can find your niche.

Which service do you typically attend?
The 9:00am. I really enjoy seeing the kids.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
Not really. I wasn’t baptized until I was in high school and that was only because a buddy invited me to go to his Methodist parish with him. The appeal was more social than religious as there was an active youth group.

How did you find your way to the Episcopal church?
My wife, Jeannine, who’s a cradle Episcopalian. After getting married we went to church on occasion. I still remember the rector saying to me, “Young man, you need to make a decision.” I asked him what he had in mind and he said I should go through the process to be received in the Episcopal church. So I did.

What about Saint Philip’s engages you?
The community. There is such depth of talent here. When I visit with folks, I can’t believe their backgrounds and what they’ve done. It seems like a special place for talented people.

Being involved with the parish is also very engaging.

How are you involved?
I first started helping out with Newcomer Orientation. Then Jeannine got involved with what used to be Parish Life (hospitality for different events) so I was a de facto adjunct member of that committee.

There were various other efforts that I was involved with but right now I manage First Sunday Breakfasts, am Chair of the Music Commission, and serve on the Vestry. This will be my last year (of the three year term), so I’m on the nominating committee to identify new members. If anyone reading this is interested (or even just curious), please be in touch with me.

Why should someone consider serving on the Vestry?
It’s a wonderful way to learn more about Saint Philip’s than you ever imagined. I appreciate much more now just how complex the parish is—as much as its about maintaining the buildings and grounds, it’s also about the future and considering strategic options for the direction the parish takes.

What did you do professionally before retiring?
I was always in education. Initially, I taught fifth grade for five years. That’s a great age because it’s less about skills development than it is content. And it’s before kids hit puberty and become grouchy.

Later I became a principal—which is how I spent most of my career. My final 10 years, I had oversight of all the elementary schools in the district. I managed the staff development program, mentoring program, and directed applications for state and federal grants.

Lots of teachers are leaving the profession. What inspired you day in and day out?
The people I worked with were good, dedicated, and talented people. The job’s variety was another appeal. And finally, knowing I was doing something worthwhile and good was as compelling as anything else. What more could I want in a job than to do something important with good people and with a variety of rewards and challenges?

And it’s also how I met Jeannine.

Is there a story there?
There sure is!

I was a bachelor teacher and the principal said he was going to hire someone for me to marry. It became a running joke. Well, three years later the principal’s secretary told me to go to his office because he was interviewing a young woman he wanted me to see. I was busy working so didn’t make it in time. All I saw was the back of Jeannine’s head as she drove away.

The secretary asked me what I thought and I answered in jest, “I’ll marry her.”

The principal hired Jeannine to be the third grade teacher. He approached me on her first day and said, “Ask her out. We’ll play golf together and then have dinner.” I told him I didn’t golf and hadn’t even met her yet. He said that was irrelevant and said to ask her out and meet him and his wife for dinner.

So I went to her classroom, we chatted, and I invited her to dinner. We dated for 12 months and got married a year to the day we met.

What do you do to relax/replenish yourself?
I like to “patio ponder.” We have a porch swing where I sit and ponder. It looks like I’m not doing anything but I come up with all sorts of answers—sometimes to questions I didn’t even know I had.

And I love to garden. Back in Illinois our garden was featured on the Garden Club’s Garden Walk fundraiser. But the desert is challenging for me; I kill things regularly. I’m not giving up, however.

What’s something you’re proud of?
I’m proud of our kids. They are good people. Our daughter is a teacher here in the Marana School District at a STEM school at Dove Mountain. And our son retired to Columbus, GA after 20 years in the Air Force. 

What’s one of your guiding principles?
Forgiveness. I don’t know if it’s a gift or a weakness but I can’t hold a grudge.

It comes from how I was raised. My mother and her sisters were just nice, nice people and that’s what they taught me. You don’t bash people and you don’t hold things against them.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
My education. I was the first one in my family to go to college.

My dad wanted me to be a farmer like him. But I watched him and my brother work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and saw that farming is a hard, hard life. And we were in far southern Illinois—about 20 miles from the Kentucky border and even fewer miles from Indiana—which is still the second poorest county in Illinois. The foothills of the Ozark Mountain are very pretty but not great farming country. I wanted something different.

How did your father respond to your choice?
Freshman year of high school he said to make sure I took the class “Future Farmers.” He said do it for one year and if I didn’t like it I could quit. I knew before taking the course that I wouldn’t like it—but I agreed.

Each student had to have a project that required keeping paperwork and records. We had a young heifer at the time and my father said she could be my project.

I kept the best files and got an A on my record book. But it was all fiction! I didn’t even know where the cow was.

I did my year and then quit. Kudos to my father because he never brought the subject up again.

Do you have siblings?
My brother was the oldest, followed by my two sisters. There was an eight year gap and then I came along, and four years later my sister Linda. Three of them died in the span of 17 months time. Only one is now alive.

My oldest sister was the first to die. It was during the height of COVID so I couldn’t attend her funeral.

What’s one of your core values?
Community. If community exists then just about anything that needs to be tackled can be accomplished—from the simplest things to the most complicated situations. It’s not just one person getting it done; it’s the group.

That’s my experience volunteering for the Music Commission. I don’t make things happen. I just get everyone together. The ideas spring up from the collective and we advance the mission of great music at Saint Philip’s.

What’s one of your super powers?
My sense of humor. It can help lighten a mood or help people relax. Lots of times my humor is self-deprecating. My experience is that showing some vulnerability then allows others to feel comfortable sharing theirs. It’s all about acknowledging our humanity and creating connections.

What’s something you’d love to do that you can’t…yet?
I would love to sing well. And I’m pretty sure that isn’t going to happen.

But my philosophy is that if I can’t sing well, then I’m going to sing loudly—and enjoy it. Luckily for others I know I don’t have a voice so I do it when I’m alone. I hold solitary concerts.

What do you sing?
Pop songs, hymns, something I’ve heard on the radio. I’ll hear something at church and see if I can do it. I haven’t been successful yet but I have fun trying.

Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.