Rex Benton Bledsoe

January 1, 2018

Rex Benton Bledsoe went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 1st, 2018. Rex was the first born child of Roberta and Redmond Bledsoe in Charleston, Texas in 1931. The family later moved to Weslaco, Texas. At Weslaco High School, Rex joined the band,” took up” the trombone, and dearly loved playing it. He graduated from Weslaco High School in 1950. Rex had tried to join the Marines when he was in the 11th grade, but his mother would not give him permission, which was required because he was only 17 years old. After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at Scott Field, Ill, attending radio school there. He later was shipped to Wiesbaden, Germany where, when they didn't need radio operators at that time, he was transferred to the Air Police where he remained for the next 3 years, ending his tour of duty. He was discharged, chose not to re-enlist and came home to McAllen, getting a job as a milk and ice cream delivery man with Borden Milk Co. in Alamo. Rex worked for Bill Rowe Electric while attending IBEW School in Harlingen where Bill Rowe was an instructor, and later was hired by Parrish Electric in Mission. While working there he took,and passed, his Master Electrician exam. He and his wife Barbara started Bledsoe Electric Co. in 1971 in San Juan and soon after bought land and built a shop in Pharr on Highway 495 where he “wired” houses and commercial buildings until their retirement in 1992. After retirement, he moved to Kerrville, Texas where he lived in Turtle Creek for 20 years then returned to McAllen two years ago and remained there until Monday. Rex was always busy doing something. He raised and raced homing pigeons, and enjoyed bird and deer hunting. Rex stayed busy building many, many bird houses which he loved giving away. He would build interestingly designed furniture not necessarily for indoors but what he preferred to call ”back porch furniture”. We must not forget the thousands if not millions of rocks he moved and stacked at the Kerrville “Rockin' House”. One thing we know best is that what Rex loved the most was being around all of the hullabaloo of family get-togethers. For several years at the “Rockin' House” he would throw big pot luck barbecues in which he would send out invitations to almost everybody he knew. They were always well attended and enjoyed by all. Rex and Barbara were very active in Magic Valley Baptist Church in Pharr and attended, pretty much, every time the doors were open. While living in Kerrville, Rex joined Calvary Temple Church where he faithfully attended services and religiously warmed the corner chair in the very back row.Rex is survived by son Kenneth Rex (Jennifer), and daughters Stefani Palmer (Mike), Cheryl Pray, grandsons Luke Basham (Natalie), Stephen Palmer (Stacey Keller), Jensen Pray (Stacey Davidson), and Sean Palmer (Ana Trevino); granddaughters Erin Palmer Guidas (Nick), and Bella Bledsoe; great-grandsons Dusty Palmer, Miles Basham, Tyler Palmer, and Callan Pray; great-granddaughters Charli Rae Palmer and Makayla Pray; his aunt Rosemary Smith, cousin Doug Davis (Rosie), niece Denise Cook and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother and father; son-in-law Rik Basham, grandmother Josephine “JoJo / Big Mama” Evans, aunt Roxie Cowart, step-mother Willie Bledsoe, sister Barbara King, great-granddaughter Samantha Basham, nephew Larry Cook and son-in-law Tim “Spook” Pray. We wish to thank all of the wonderful caregivers at McAllen Nursing Center who cared for Dad. Graveside services will be at Roselawn Cemetary in McAllen on Saturday, January 6th, 2018 at 11:00 AM