Obituary – Rex Vernon English – Christopher

CHRISTOPHER – Rex Vernon English, 86, passed away at 2:15 AM, April 8, 2014, at his home.

Rex was born on April 27, 1927 in Kennett, Missouri to Joe and Azalea (Rollins) English.  He married Betty Lou Adams on May 11, 1947 in Anna, Illinois.  Together they shared over 59 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on August 11, 2006.

Rex graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School in 1945.  After graduating, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy in World War II.  After being honorably discharged, he returned to Anna and worked at Jo-Ann Laundry.  He then started employment with Bunny Bread in Anna and was transferred to Christopher in 1958 as terminal supervisor.  Later, a new terminal was built in Herrin and, in 1985, he retired as Northern District Manager, after 30 years employment.  For most of his career, Rex’s terminal had the best sales results of all and he was called upon to help open new locations for Bunny Bread as well.

Rex was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion in Christopher, Illinois.

Rex enjoyed fishing at Reelfoot Lake with Betty, fun times with family at their cabin near Desoto, Illinois, playing pinochle with friends and family, dancing, golfing with his brothers and spending time with classmates from the Class of 1945.

Most of all, he enjoyed living at Lake of Egypt, dubbed by family members as “Lake of English”, for 21 years.  The times there, with Betty and his kids, grandkids and all of their friends were priceless.  Fishing, pontoon boat rides, water skiing (which he did until he was 60 years old), watching the grandkids play on the dock – all of these provided him with such pleasure.  But what the grandkids loved best were the spectacular 4th of July fireworks Grandpa provided each year.

Rex is survived by five children and their spouses, Sandy and Tom Vaughn, Candy and David Price, Rex and Sheila English, Kent (Smitty) and Cathy English, all of Christopher and Carilea and Larry Cooper of Benton, Ky; eleven grandchildren, Ryan Vaughn and wife, Jenny, Melissa Gibbs, Chad Price and wife, Kelli, Shauna Burckhardt and husband, Brian, Seth English and wife, Mehgan, Stella Triplett and husband, Gary, Katie Pettit and husband, Andy, Matthew English and wife, Lindsay, Ashley Kuhn and husband, Jay, Brandis Wheeler and Neill Wheeler and wife, Niki; great grandchildren, Zoey Vaughn, Liam Gibbs, Shae, Lexi and Piper Price, Azalee and Brock Burckhardt, Jorja English, Abbott Triplett, Spencer and Finnigan Pettit, Eloise English, Lemmy Kuhn and Colton Wheeler; a sister-in-law, Norma Fuller, 4 nieces and 11 nephews. Two more great grandchildren will arrive later this year.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, infant grandson, Clint Anthony Ronchetto, his sisters, Dixie English and Ellen Campbell, brothers and sisters-in-law, J. T. and Jennie English, C.A. and Bettye English, Harold and Mary English, brother-in-law, Donald McCann and nephews, Larry, Gary and Terry English and Brian Campbell.

Services will be at _11:00 A.M  Friday April 11,2014 at the  Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with the Rev. Daniel Ison officiating.  Interment will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday  at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the First Christian Church in Christopher.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home

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