Rex V. McFadden

Rex V. McFadden, 79 of Lubbock passed away peacefully with his family by his side on September 10, 2012.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 14, 2012 at 2 pm at Redbud Baptist Church with Rev. Shon Wagner and Syl Moore officiating, burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park. Visitation will be held tonight from 5-7 pm at Resthaven Funeral Home.

Rex was born on November 7, 1932 in Olton, Texas to Roy and Vera McFadden. He attended public Schools in Olton graduating from there in 1949. On March 16th, 1952 he married the love of his life, Linda Dewberry after meeting on a blind date; they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in March. Early in his life Rex was very involved in the family farm in Olton, which gave him the aspirations for some of the business he started later in life.

As a local business owner he owned and operated Shur Gro Irrigation, Well-Frac, Rex McFadden Co, Sky Tex Rigs and DCP. During the 1980's he was a partner in DCP who bought and sold drilling equipment for the oil field as well as drilled in the gulf with an offshore rig named Big John. Rex was very instrumental in bringing the first Valley Center pivots to West Texas. With Shur Gro Irrigation he sold and installed center pivots all over the plains of Texas. He later advanced with technology started by Du Pont and developed acids and other products for fracing irrigation wells to increase production; some of this technology was also used in the oil fields. Rex drilled irrigation wells all over the plains and could tell you where there was water and where there wasn't. He designed and built pipe elevators for water and oil drilling rigs that are still being sold all over the world as Sky Rex Elevators.
Rex was very generous with his time and talent. In 1970 after the May 11th tornados hit Lubbock, there was no power for communication in many areas of town. Rex had a two way radio system and was able to assist many in the community in different ways. He assisted Continental Airlines with their communication so that they would still be able to operate at the Lubbock Airport. He and Wayne Teal donated property to the Frenship School District for Willow Bend Elementary.

Rex is survived by his wife, Linda of the home, one daughter, Dawn Nivens and her husband Danny, one son Rocky McFadden, five grandchildren; Laceé Short and husband Danny, Eric McFadden and wife Kim, Candice Anderson and husband James, and Nicole Johnson and husband Daniel, twin great grandchildren; Ace and Brooklyn Short, one brother, Royce McFadden and one sister, Rosalie Sims and husband Frank.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donations be made to Hospice of Lubbock, Cal Farley Boy's Ranch or Redbud Baptist Church.

Rex will be missed dearly by all that knew him, he will be forever in our hearts.

Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com