More detail on this person: CARTERVILLE --
Rex Kendall Chambers, 83, died Sunday, Aug. 19,
2012, at his home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, in
Riggin-Pillatsch and Burke Funeral Home in
Carterville, with the Rev. Brad Harlow
officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery
in Carterville, with military rites performed by
Marion VFW Hyde-Pillow Post 1301 and National
Guard. Visitation will begin after 6 p.m. today,
Aug. 22, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Folds of
Honor Foundation, 5800 N. Patriot Drive, Owasso,
OK 74055. Envelopes will be available at the
funeral home.
Rex was born Jan. 22, 1929, in St. Louis, to Harry
Kendall and Ruth Irene (Young) Chambers. He
married Elsie Pearl Paulk on March 1, 1952, in
Columbus, Ga.; she preceded him in death March
25, 2005. He later married Violet Barnett on Oct.
30, 2007, in Carterville.
He is survived by his wife, Violet Barnett
Chambers; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and
Rodger Reeder of De Soto; son and daughter-in-law,
Kendal and Lana Chambers of Woodbury, Minn.;
sister, Delores Simpson of Carterville;
grandchildren and their spouses, Megan Reeder of
Dhaka, Bangladesh, Benjamin and Catrina Reeder
of San Diego, Elliott and Rebecca Chambers of Las
Vegas, Kathleen Reeder of De Soto, Madison
Chambers of Fort Bragg, N.C.,
and Molly Reeder of Kadena Air Force Base,
Okinawa; and several nieces and nephews.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Harry
and Irene; wife, Pearl; and sister, Nikki
Chambers.
He honorably served our country in the U.S. Army
during the Korean War and Vietnam conflict. He
also served overseas in Japan, Italy and Germany
and was an Army helicopter and airplane pilot.
Rex retired in 1968 as a chief warrant officer 3
after 20 years of service. After he retired from
the military, he worked for SIU in the computer
data processing center.
Rex was a member of First Baptist Church in
Carterville, where he served as a deacon. He was
also a member of the Carterville American Legion.
He was an avid Miners and Cardinals baseball fan.
Rex enjoyed woodworking, gardening and going out
to eat with friends. He was the type of person who
was always there for anybody who needed a helping
hand.
Rex was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather
and brother. He was very proud of his six
grandchildren: an airman, a graphic designer, a
Marine, a missionary and two soldiers.
To view this obituary and sign the guest register,
visit www.rigginpillatschburkefh.com
Published in The Southern Illinoisan from August
20 to August 22, 2012
http://www.rigginpillatschburkefh.com/id57.html
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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