Rex E White

Rex E White, age 92, longtime Rhodes resident and proud U.S. Veteran, passed away early morning, Tuesday, May 18th, at the Southridge Specialty Care. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25th at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with luncheon following. Interment will be in the Eden Cemetery, Rhodes. There will be a Masonic Service starting at 9:30 a.m. and public visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorial contributions may be directed to his family for a later designation.  For further information or to leave Rex’s family a condolence, please visit mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Born on August 12th, 1928, at home in Rhodes, IA, he was the son of James and Vesta (Good) White. Rex graduated from the Melbourne High School in 1945. On March 21st, 1951, he enlisted in the United States Army and served our country honorably in the Korean War. Rex was stationed in Etajima, Japan. Upon his honorable discharge on March 10th, 1953, he returned to his hometown to farm with his dad and brother, Carroll. His pride of being a true American can be seen by the flag flying at the corner of Fairman Avenue and US 330 a project he faithfully tended to. On February 28th, 1954, he was married to the love of his life, Marilyn Hegland, at Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown. They made their home on the farm at Rhodes. Rex was a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Melbourne 50 Year Plus Club, Birthday Club and various organizations supporting the community. He enjoyed amateur radio operating (WAOAVW) and attending international and national conventions as well hosting other radio enthusiasts. He and Marilyn traveled the world visiting foreign countries. An avid mountain climber, he can credit climbing in four continents. A definite highlight was climbing the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Left to cherish his life is Marilyn, his loving wife of 67 years and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In death, Rex has been reunited with his parents, two sisters, Garnita Seward and Goldia Canutt and a brother Carroll White.