Lt. Col. Rex E. Mayhew U.S.A.F. (Retired)

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Rex E. Mayhew, 78

DOVER - Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Rex E. Mayhew, of Dover, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2008, from congestive heart failure. He was 78.

He endured two heart bypass surgeries in the last 18 years of his life.

Rex was born March 15, 1930, in Milford, Ill. He grew up in Watseka, Ill.

In his younger years, he played the drums in his father's dance band and continued to play throughout his college years.

He was also a star athlete in basketball and track and field at Watseka Community High School and earned a scholarship to Western Illinois University where he met his future wife, Shirley Nunn of Macomb, Ill.

He graduated from the university in 1952 and joined the U.S. Air Force as an aviation cadet. He took his flight training at Waco, Texas.

Two hours after he received his gold bars and navigator wings, he married Shirley in the chapel at James Connolly Air Force Base, Texas, on Feb. 25, 1953.

In 1966, Rex completed a master's degree in business management at the University of Colorado.

He served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years, including a tour of duty in the Vietnam War. He flew 175 combat missions and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses for valor and 10 Air Medals.

He obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a true patriot.

After his retirement from the Air Force, he became a real estate broker in the Washington metropolitan area and Delaware.

He loved a heated discussion about politics and telling war stories. He also enjoyed building things, boating and playing golf.

During the past four years, he became a "snowbird" at his second home in The Villages, Florida.

Rex is survived by his wife of 55 years, Shirley (Nunn) Mayhew of Dover; a son, Mitchell Mayhew of Smyrna; two daughters, Mindy Kovalsky and her husband Don of Newtown Square, Pa., and Ronda St. Armand and her husband Don of Bowie, Md.; four grandchildren, Kandis Kovalsky, Kent Kovalsky, Jaclyn St. Armand and Brian St. Armand.

Graveside services with full military honors will be 3 p.m. July 17 at Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association, Kent County Division, 1151 Walker Road, Suite 202, Dover, DE 19904.

Letters of condolence may be sent and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.