James "Tony" Anthony Rexrode

James Anthony (Tony) Rexrode, beloved husband of the late Sandra (Sandy) Sprague Rexrode, and father of Rebecca Rexrode, Caryn Rexrode Pawlik (Tim), Kirk W. Rexrode (Tom Hughes), and Stuart G. Rexrode (Heather), passed away peacefully on April 10, 2023.

Tony was born in Phoenix, AZ on June 1st, 1934 to William Wayne Rexrode and Willene Emrich Rexrode and is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. His grandchildren include Rebecca’s sons Alexander and Colin Ward, Caryn’s sons Eric and Matthew Verbit, Kirk’s step-daughter Meghan Hughes, and Stuart’s children Grant, William, Kathryn, and Brooks. His great-grandchildren include Isaac, Hannah, Abigail, Grayson, and Jonah Verbit. Tony was preceded in death by his brothers William Wayne Rexrode Jr. and Clyde Edmond Rexrode, and second wife Gwendolyn Creel Rexrode.

Tony, an excellent athlete and creative budding salesman, enjoyed his early childhood in San Francisco, CA where his father worked for Encyclopedia Britannica. His family later moved to Southern California where he attended junior high and Verdugo Hills High School, and was a 4-year letterman in baseball and football. He then attended his beloved UCLA, where he was an active member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and member of the NROTC program. He was most proud of being selected and excelling as a Yell Leader supporting the UCLA football team on the field. Always the Bruin, Tony could muster up an inspirational UCLA cheer even through his golden years. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing in 1956 with an officer’s commission to the U.S. Navy. Most importantly, in his junior year at UCLA, Tony met the love of his life, Sandy, who he married later in 1956. They spent 48 incredible years together building their family and legacy while sharing life’s wonderful experiences.

Upon graduation, Tony was commissioned as a naval officer in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp, where Tony served on the bridge as the Officer of the Deck. Tony often fondly reminisced about his two Navy years as being the most incredible experience of his lifetime. His stories were endless. Tony concluded his naval service and then joined Shell Oil in a marketing role. His growing family moved to various California cities, with stops in Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff, NJ and finally settled in Houston in 1970. Tony was a “company man” rising through the ranks and was very proud of his time and service at Shell. He left Shell after 32 years in 1991 and joined Tenneco Gas Marketing after being recruited as President, before retiring in 1995. Always a man of unshakable values, loyalty and tradition, Tony lived in the same home in the Westchester Subdivision for 51 years.

Tony will always be remembered as truly one of a kind. He would do absolutely anything to help his children in times of need and was the consummate family man. He left an incredible legacy by always making sure his children and grandchildren were connecting with extended family across the country, who remain close today. Tony loved sports and always was a mainstay on the neighborhood tennis team. He especially loved rooting for his UCLA Bruins football and basketball teams. After retirement, he always looked forward to playing golf with his buddies at Sweetwater Country Club. Above all, Tony loved youth sports, whether it was coaching little league baseball for his sons and ultimately his grandsons, or literally spending thousands of hours in the yard throwing the football to the neighborhood boys. Tony also loved traveling with Sandy, and they went all over the world together. His children especially cherish the numerous trips to one of Tony’s favorite places, Yosemite National Park. Always engaging and quick to make friends, Tony’s greatest gift was his desire to make people smile. He was a prolific joke teller and made everyone’s day singing his old classics while playing the ukelele and banjo. People did not forget Tony after meeting him and often mentioned how he made them feel special. In his later years, he was very proud to be a member and usher at Pines Presbyterian Church. Tony will be so missed by his friends and family, who loved and respected him dearly. But he leaves us knowing God’s glory awaits in heaven and reuniting with his beloved Sandy.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, May 2nd at 3:00pm at Pines Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made in Tony’s name to the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation.