Farewell, Mr. Rex

TWIT is very sad to report that Robley Rex, Kentucky's only surviving WWI veteran has died. He would have been 108 years old on Saturday.

Up until just a few weeks ago, Mr. Rex volunteered daily at the VA Hospital here in Louisville. Appropriately, he died in the place that he volunteered. When asked about his longevity, he said it was because he "married the right woman." His wife of 69 years, Gracie, died in 1992.

He enlisted in the Army after the armistice was signed, and was signed to a military intelligence unit in Germany. He was never near combat during his military service. He said that when he landed in France, the commander asked if anyone could use a typewriter. Robley said that "God lifted my hand, and I went in to keep a chair warm." After his stint in the Army, he returned home, married Gracie and farmed for 23 years in Hopkinsville. He and his wife later moved to Louisville, where he retired as a railway postal clerk.

Robley loved the VA Hospital, and volunteered more than 16,000 hours. He delivered charts, records and mail, and being an ordained Methodist minister he would have prayer with the patients. At his 107th birthday, he was honored with the Kentucky Governor's Award for Outstanding Service. He was named the National Volunteer of the Year in 2005 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. Rex twice. The first time was when I attended my very first VFW convention a few years ago. The picture above was taken shortly after I met him and gave him a hug. The second time I got to meet him was two years ago on Memorial Day. Mr. Rex threw out the first pitch at the Bats baseball game. After he threw the first pitch, he rode around the perimeter of the baseball field in a cart, waving to the crowd. As he reached the rightfield section of the stands, over 1,000 young men in boot camp at Fort Knox all stood up and saluted Mr. Rex while he passed by their section. Let me tell you I was as weepy during that moment as I am right now reminiscing about it.

They had a story about Mr. Rex last night on the 6:00 news, and they showed a few video clips of him during the past few years. During one interview, the reporter asked Mr. Rex about how he had lived so long. Mr. Rex said "You know the song, 'God Will Take Care Of You'? Well, I'm the man that God has taken care of." Amen, Mr. Rex. Amen.