| Notes |
- Leland Alfred Rex was born on a dairy farm outside of Atlanta, New York in the Finger Lakes area. He graduated from high school at 16, having been taught for several years by his sister, Lillian. He never could get away with anything at school because it was discussed at the dinner table that night!
Following High School, Leland attended a business college for two years. Then he opted to join the Army since jobs were hard to come by at the end of the Great Depression. He had a friend who had done that and at that time, you could choose your destination. They chose Honolulu, Hawaii.
It was in Honolulu that Leland met Florence, his soon to be wife, on a blind date. They dated frequently and then history changed the course of their lives. On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Hawaii. Leland was at Schofield Barracks and witnessed some of the carnage, but Florence, living on Waikiki beach saw a lot of Japanese Zeroes fly past the house she lived in. She was sent back to the US for her safety and Leland put in for flight training in Taft, California to be near her. They married on October 3, 1942.
When they were planning to get married, the Episcopalian minister asked Leland if he'd been baptized and he couldn't remember. The minister insisted on baptizing him before the wedding could commence. They were happily married for 69 years. In the spring of 1944, Leland was sent to Naples, Italy as the campaign to push Germany back north out of Italy began. Florence returned home to Canada to stay with her parents while she was pregnant with her first child.
After completing his tour of duty at the end of the war, he was discharged and got on one of the first ships back to the US and then travelled by train and ferry to Canada to bring Florence and Pam back to New York.
After dissatisfaction with several odd jobs, Leland re-enlisted in the Army-Air Force, teaching ROTC at Cornell University during which time Marian was born.
Later he served in the Philippines, California where Glenn was born, South Carolina, Miami, Houston, and Omaha, Nebraska. He retired from the Air Force in 1968 after 28 years of distinguished service and moved to Ft. Worth, TX.
Later he attended and graduated from TCU in 3 years Cum Laude. He enjoyed a 10 year career as an accountant at Garvey Grain Elevators in Ft Worth.
Florence and Leland explored much of the US and Canada while living in their travel trailer up to 3 months at a time.
Leland enjoyed woodworking and restoring antique furniture and could usually fix most anything. His hobby of photography produced many delightful pictures of family and scenery. Leland and Florence also enjoyed square dancing, becoming quite proficient. After retiring the second time, he volunteered at water therapy for MS patients and began working on Habitat for Humanity Homes. Later he delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at First Hand at Community Crossroads (providing food for needy people) until last year.
Leland served as a deacon and an elder at various times in several churches where he was a staunch member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a man of lifelong integrity and greatly beloved by family and friends.
He leaves 3 children: Pam, Marian, and Glenn, 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren.
There will be a Memorial Service at Greenwood Forest Clubhouse, 12700 Champion Forest Dr., Houston, TX 77066 on Saturday June 2, 2018 at 11 AM. Pastor Jerry Williams of The Fort Discipleship Center will officiate. There will be a meal following the service.
Ft. Worth's First Presbyterian Church, of which Leland was a member for over 30 years, will host a Memorial Service at a date to be determined later
|
1920 - 2018 (98 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set