Dates
Sergeant First Class Rex Douglas Whetstone, Jr., Army (ret.), 59, of Christoval passed away on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, August 8, 2026 at The Fort Concho Commisary. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemeterry, Arlington, Virginia. Arrangements are under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home.
Rex D. Whetstone, Jr. was born December 27, 1966 to Rex and Dorothy Whetstone of Detroit, Michigan. Rex is the oldest of six children (three boys and three girls). He graduated from Franklin High School in 1985.
Rex joined the military on January 2, 1986 and attended Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC. Following basic training, he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas with the 8th Engineering Battalion. Rex left active duty military in December 1987 and joined the Texas National Guard. During his time with the Texas National Guard, he served a tour in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In June 1992, Rex once again joined active duty service and was stationed in Germany with the 2/3 Field Artillery.
From 1994-1999, Rex was a soldier at Ft. Benning, Georgia with 3rd Ranger Battalion where he graduated from Ranger School in 1998. In 1999, he PCS'd to Ft. Lewis, Washington with 2nd Ranger Battalion. In 2001, Rex began the SFQC at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and graduated in 2003. Upon completion of the course, he was assigned to 5th GRP at Ft. Campbell, Kentuky where he was deployed to Iraq 4 times.
On October 15, 2005, Rex married Jill Connor McNew. They have one child together, Harley Grace, and he has one child from a previous marriage, Jared Bud. He has three step-children, Caleb, Caity, and Emma.
In February of 2006, Rex arrived at Ft. Bragg, NC where he spent three years as a TAC at SWTG. In November, 2009, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd SFG.
SFC Rex Douglas Whetstone, Jr, Army (ret) has been the recipient of the following awards and medals: Bronze Star W/V Device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal X 5, Army Achievement Medal X 7, Army Good Conduct Medal X 6, National Defense Service Medal X 2, Southwest Asian Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal X 3, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon X 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Rex owned and operated Whetstone Metal Designs, a plasma-cut custom metal design business, that he took great pride in. Rex loved anything with an adrenaline rush, i.e. jumping out of airplanes, motorcycles, NASCAR, and shooting guns. Rex loved working with his hands, and never turned down a challenge. Rex could have a gruff personality at times, but he always found a way to show his love to everyone around him. His favorite food was jalapeno poppers.
Rex is survived by his wife of 21 years, Jill McNew-Whetstone; five children, Jared Whetstone of Liberty Hill, Harley Grace Whetstone of Christoval, Emma Harrison of San Angelo, Caity Green and husband Cameron of Ft Hood, and Caleb McNew and wife Juliet of Ft. Leavenwood, Kansas; his father, Rex Douglas Whetstone, Sr. of Michigan; his mother, Dorothy Rose Seemann of Liberty Hill; five siblings, Lisa Whetstone Ridgway of Tucson, Arizona, Laura Whetstone Donaldson of Dickinson, Deanna Seeman of Liberty Hill, Bud Seemann of Walled Lake, Michigan, John-Ethan Seeman of Casper, Wyoming; three grandchildren, Elijah Harrison, Ruby McNew and Molly McNew; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his stepfather, Bud Seemann.