Colonel Rex C. Denny, Jr.
Rex Clarence Denny, JR., 94 of Celeste passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 9, 2018.
Services are at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 15 2018, at the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jay Henderson presiding. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday August 14, 2018 at the funeral home. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday August 15, 2018 at the Dallas / Ft Worth National Cemetery in Arlington Texas.
Rex was born on April 28, 1924 in Celeste, Texas. He was the son of Rex C. Denny, Sr and Mebane Harrell Denny. He married Marjorie Helen Hudson on September 20, 1948 in Roswell New Mexico.
He was a lifelong member of the Celeste United Methodist Church.
Col. Denny grew up helping his father operate a grocery store in Celeste. He graduated from Celeste High School in 1941. On December 7, 1942 he joined the United States Marine Corp as a 2nd Lieutenant an aviation cadet. After completion of his training, he served three years in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. He flew fighters as well as the Marine version of the B-24 bomber. One of the highlights of his service in WWII was flying Admiral Nimitz back from the Japanese Surrender Ceremony on the U.S.S Missouri.
Col. Denny was one of the first USMC helicopter pilots, and he was the first graduate of the first Marine Corps helicopter school in Pensacola, Florida. He was a member of the Marine's first helicopter squadron. He was the first Marine certified to fly both fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
Col. Denny served in the Korean War, flying attack aircraft and helicopters. One of his duties was flying some of the U. S. representatives to Panmunjon for the armistice negotiations.
Col. Denny also served two tours in Vietnam - one tour as C.O. of helicopter squadron HMM-161. Col. Denny retired from the Marine Corp in 1973 after 31 years of service. During his service, Col. Denny received numerous awards and medals, including the Bronze Star with Combat V, Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Col. Denny was an avid foxhunter. He and Marjorie Denny founded Col. Denny's Cloudline Hounds in 1974. He served as a Master of Foxhounds with Cloudline Hounds for the rest of his life.
After retirement, he bought a Cessna 172 airplane and flew around the country with Marjorie and family members.
Col. Denny was an avid collector of antique cars and a member of the Greenville Antique Automobile Club.
Col. Denny obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1961. In 1970, he obtained his Master's Degree in International Relations from George Washington University. Col. Denny was also a graduate of the Naval War College.
His is survived by his son, Bryce Denny of Mansfield, Louisiana; daughters, Monica Denny of Greenville and Susan Gentry and husband, Craig of Celeste; sister, Betty Sellers of Dallas; grandchildren, Rex Hamilton Gentry, Glenn Wiedenbeck, Michael Denny and Maxwell Denny; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife.