William “Bill” John Rahorst

Obituaries

by Talk Business Staff ([email protected]) ago 12 views 

William J. Rahorst was born to Henry G. Rahorst and Ruth M, Mecham Rahorst in the town of Willows, California on July 17, 1952. His soul soared away from his body, while listening to Christian Gospel Music, at his home in Rock Island, Oklahoma, at the age of 74, on June 18, 2026. He was preceded in death by his Dad, Henry G. Rahorst, his mother Ruth Mecham Rahorst, his sister Ruthie Rahorst Wilson, his sister Caroline Rahorst Johnson, his brother Lee Rahorst, his nephew Bobby Wilson, his stepdaughter, Regina Darlene Freeman Do’ Tull, and his teenage daughter Christine L. Rahorst.

After graduating high school, he bussed tables at a restaurant inside the Holiday Inn Hotel in Stockton California. He was proud to purchase his first car with that job. He was one of the fastest and most reliable workers there and this strong and dependable work ethic lasted throughout his entire life. He was awed as a teen, that he had the job of personally bringing food and drinks to popular movie actresses and actors such as Ann Margret and Anthony Quinn, who both roomed at that hotel while making movies nearby.

After that, he joined the Navy during the US war against the Northern Viet Cong communist regime in Vietnam. He served as an electrician’s mate on the USS Hancock Aircraft Carrier, number 19, based off the coast of Vietnam, in the early 1970s. That carrier had the wooden deck bombed and burned during World War II, but was refurbished with a new deck for the use of fighter jets in that time period of the Vietnam War. He was such a reliable electrician, even the ship’s captain befriended him and would invite him to some of his personal activities.

While in the Navy, he married Lorene Sullivan; to that union were born two daughters, Christine L. Rahorst and Jodie C. Rahorst. That marriage ended, much to his dismay. A few years later, after he was honorably discharged from the Navy, Bill married Shirley J. Shaw Rahorst in 1976. A son, Jason E. Rahorst, was born in 1977.

He graduated from Southeastern State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Wildlife Management in Durant, Oklahoma, and was an honor student there.

He is survived by his daughter Jodie C. Rahorst Wenner, nieces Laurie Wilson Autry, Kathy Wilson Wenrich, and his sister-in-law Fran Rahorst. Bill is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Stephen Aaron Do’ (Doe), John Mitchell Do’, Christina Tull, Jori, Aaron, Annaly, Tanya, and Manny Truong, and Faith Rahorst, and Kaitlyn Crawford.

Family and friends are welcome to attend an open viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Lewis Funeral Chapel in Fort Smith. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at The Well Church, located at 2902 Pocola Blvd in Pocola, Oklahoma 74902. Then on the same day, at 1:00 PM, William J. Rahorst will have military honors performed at a committal service at the US National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Services are entrusted to Lewis Funeral Chapel.