Donald "Shorty" Loyd Rector, 77, son of Thomas Barton Rector and Leona Artrua Watts Rector, was born Feb. 17, 1927, at Waltonville, Ill. He died Sept. 11, 2004, after a short bout with cancer.

Mr. Rector grew up during The Depression in rural Illinois. He served in the military 22 years during World War II and the Korean War. He was stationed in Japan, Korea, Newfoundland, Germany and various posts in the U.S. He retired in May 1968 and moved to Licking.

He married Carmella Ester Capriglione May 1, 1949, at Tokyo, Japan. They had three children.

Mr. Rector was a carpenter in the community and for a short time worked for the construction division of the Department of Conservation.

He was instrumental in establishing local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters and spent countless hours to help ensure their success. He served terms as commander.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; one brother, Thurman Glenn; two grandchildren and special friend, Lanaye Turner.

Surviving are two sons, Christopher Joseph and Peter Thomas of Licking; daughter, Leona Rae Forest of Norfolk, Va.; brother, Wayne Melvin, and sister, Evelyn Christine Schmidt Rector of Mount Vernon, Ill.

Graveside services with full military honors were Sept. 14 at the Licking Cemetery under the direction of Fox Funeral Home of Licking.

Source: Houston Herald, Houston, MO
Date: September 16, 2004
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman