Ray Rainwater's Bench Dedicated at Pohick Bay Regional Park

Go out to the pier at  Pohick Bay Regional Park, and right on the Potomac you'll find a recently-dedicated bench to honor the memory of Lorton's Ray Rainwater.  

Rainwater, the owner of the Rainwater Concrete Debris Landfill in Lorton, died of heart failure on Jan. 5 at age 85. 

"It is a lovely place to go and remember him," said Linda Rainwater, Ray's wife. "When the house feels like it's too much and the memories are strong I come down here and 30 minutes later I feel like I can take on the world."

On the plaque are the words "Ray Rainwater, Lorton's Lasting Legend."

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland said that Rainwater was a "rugged individualist. We were friends, we didn't agree on everything, but I knew where Ray stood and he was the kind of man who worked hard and went after what he wanted."  

The bench cost $1,600 and was paid for by the Lorton Community Action Center, the Mason Neck Citizens Association, the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and an anonymous donor. 

"In my estimation he was a man's man. I don't know anyone who had more friends than Ray did," said Lorton's Shep Crow, who organized the entire production. 

Read: Remembering Ray Rainwater