Willingham, Rex

Rex Willingham, 86, born April 4, 1927, lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and joined our Lord on Sept. 29, 2013.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Ovidia; his daughters, Rexann Willingham of Albuquerque, N.M., Kay Kindall of Wells, KAN., Kellie Willingham Fortune of Kernersville, N.C., and Magnolia McKinstry-Druger of Cedar Rapids; his son, Roy Willingham of Ghana, Africa; and 14 grandchildren.

Rex had accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior years ago, and is now at home with Him. He was born in Hollis, Okla., grew up during the Dust Bowl days, and graduated from high school in Sudan, Texas. He joined the Navy on graduation near the end of World War II and served at Pearl Harbor, loading and unloading ships. He also worked the crane on a dry dock repairing blown up ships. He passed the test for radio communications but they would not let him leave the dry dock. He later worked for oil companies in Ecuador, Saudi Arabia and Colombia, where he met his wife. Rex served as a flight instructor at the Altus, Okla., airport, where he worked for over 10 years. Rex's best memories were of flying, traveling the world, and farming near MacDonald, N.M.

The family will greet friends at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, with services following at 1:30 p.m. at Trimble Funeral Home, 601 21st St., Moline, IL 61265. (www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com). Interment, with full military honors, will be presented at 2:30 p.m. at Rock Island National Cemetery.

Please sign the guest book at www.VeteransFuneralCare.com.

Veterans Funeral Care

(800) 467-7850

Published Oct. 3, 2013 in The Gazette