IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Rex Clothier
Services for Donald Rex Clothier, who passed away Nov. 16, 2021, at Presbyterian Manor in Newton, were 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion Christian Church with Carl Helm officiating.
Rex was born on a farm north of Sylvia to Perry and Connie (Book) Clothier. He attended grade school in Stafford and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1948. He attended Hutchinson Community College before enlisting in the Air Force in 1951.
Rex attended basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was stationed at Lake Charles Air Force Base in Louisiana, working on B-29 bombers that flew bombing missions from Okinawa to Korea. He was later stationed in Okinawa with the 307th Bomber Wing to work on aircraft that flew missions over Korea. He also was stationed in Labrador, Greenland, and Saudi Arabia. He returned to Lake Charles Air Force Base in 1955, where he was honorably discharged.
In July 1955, he entered the Kansas Highway Patrol School on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence. He met Pat Lang while he was working as driver’s license examiner for Sedgwick County and Pat was working for the Internal Revenue Service.
They were united in marriage on Jan. 12, 1957, at First United Methodist Church in Wichita. They were married for 38 years and raised four children.
Rex served on patrol in Marion, Salina, Lyons, and Dodge City, where he was promoted to sergeant and oversaw 10 troopers.
He retired in 1980 from the patrol but continued to work.
Rex worked for Farmland Insurance Company, was a rural mail carrier in Dodge City, and drove a school bus for Marion Unified School District. He spent many happy hours riding a lawn mower with his son, Greg.
His wife preceded him in death in 1995. Also preceding him were his parents; his brother, James; and his sister, Jeannette.
He is survived by four children, Belinda (and husband Doug) Amend of Hesston; Brad (and wife Karen) Clothier of Scottsdale, Arizona; Lori (and husband Richard) Wilhelm of Lubbock, Texas; and Greg (and wife Denise) Clothier of Wichita.
Other survivors include 10 grandchildren, Amanda (and husband Cory) Harrison of Moundridge; Derrick (and fiancée Sydney) of Wichita; Sara (and fiancé Preston) of Wichita; Ashley (and husband Tyler) Stevenson of Wichita; Tyler (and husband Chris) Kirby of Wichita; Abby Clothier of Wichita; Chelsea (and husband Clay) Boatright of Aurora, Colorado; Amber Wilhelm of San Antonio, Texas; Brian (and wife Jade) Wilhelm of Lubbock, Texas; and Cody Wilhelm of Lubbock, Texas.
Additional survivors include 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A memorial has been established with Marion Christian Church. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Rex at www.yazelmeglifh.com.