DONNAL REX ELROD was born Oct. 8, 1922 to Jesse Uri
Elrod and Lola Leugenia "Genie" Smith Elrod at School Hill,
Erath County, Texas. He graduated from Alameda High School
and was married to Doris Mathena at Ranger, TX, in Dec. of
1943. He entered the U.S. Army in l942. Rex had five
brothers in the service at the same time. He trained in
California and Oregon, then served in the European Theater,
including the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded EAME, 3
Battle Stars. Dist. Unit Citation, GCM, AT and Victory
Ribbons. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and he and
Doris enrolled and were very active at RJC, graduating
together in 1948.
Rex was dearly loved, encouraged and supported by Trudy
and Victor Mathena, his mother and father-in-law. They
& Doris assisted him as he completed his last two years
of college training in Wichita Falls, TX. Rex completed
his major in horology from Mid-Western University. It
was due to this training that he was able to secure a
civil service position at the local air base and remained
there until full retirement. Doris and Rex were divorced
in 1951. Doris died Sept. 8, 1975 at the age of 50. This
union had no children.
Rex married his second wife, Wanda Jean Shields Lott,
August 30, 1952. At this time he moved to Byers, TX,
and changed his membership from the First Baptist Church
to the Byers First United Methodist Church. Rex and Wanda
were the parents of a daughter, Marilyn Melinda.
Rex was also a member of Joseph A. Kemp Lodge No. 1287,
a Scottish Rite Mason and a veteran of WWII.
Donnal Rex Elrod, at age 59, entered his Heavenly Home
April 27, 1982, with internment in Byers, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Grady,
David Obie, Garlan Edmond, Arlie Chester; former wife,
Doris Mathena (RHS-1941)
Survivors at the time of his death include his wife, Wanda
Jean; a daughter, Mrs. Melinda Bohrer of Omaha, NE; two
step-sons, David Lott of Ringling, OK, and Bobby Lott of
Vernon, TX; five sisters, Retta, Thelma, Dora, Mae, Azlee;
three brothers: Robert Truman, Ross, Loyd; six grand-
children; numerous nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law,
Ena Hopper (Garlan) Elrod (decd-2020).