Rex George Early

EARLY, Rex George, 86, of Henrico, left us to be with the Lord after a brief illness on September 7, 2008. He was born in Riverside, Calif., on April 24, 1922, and raised on the Pueblo Indian Reservation in Paquate, N.M. In WWII, he proudly served as an Airplane Armorer Gunner on a B-17, completing 27 missions with the 8th Air Force 96th Bomb Group (H) over continental Europe. After the war, Rex graduated from Catholic University of America with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He was loyal employee of Reynolds Metal Co. for 16 years, and finished his career with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rex was a longtime member of The American Society of Metals, The American Society of Civil Engineers, and a 49-year member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by one son, Stephen Paul Early. Rex is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 53 years, Nancy Belcher Early; one son, Michael Wayne Early and wife, Tyler; four granddaughters, Alexandra, Callee, Cheyanna and Casey; one brother, Harry Early and wife, Grace, of N.M.; and his brother-in-law, James Belcher and wife, Leigh, of Delaware. The family will receive friends 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bliley's-Staples Mill, 8510 Staples Mill Road. Graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Comfort Zone Camp, 4906 Cutshaw Ave., 2nd floor, Richmond, Va. 23230.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.