October 26, 1922 – July 16, 2009 Jimmie Oliver Rector passed away July 16, 2009 in Corpus Christi, TX at the age of 86. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Elouise Rector and his parents, J.T. and Daisey Rector, a sister, Jewel Reynolds, and a brother, Sam Rector. Jimmie is survived by his son, Jimmy Dan Rector and his wife, Denise, a granddaughter, Connie Lee Medley and husband Monty, four great-grandchildren, Montgomery, Garrison, Scout, and Sloane, a brother, Albert â??Valâ? Rector, and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Rector.
He was born on Oct. 26, 1922 in Cleburne, TX and raised in Sherman, TX where he met Elouise. They were friends since they were 8 years old. His ambition was to join the Navy, so he enlisted on Nov. 12, 1940 and retired as a Commissioned Warrant Officer on Dec. 1, 1960. During that time, he survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and engaged in many battles during the war while on board the USS Murray. He was active in battles at Wake Island, Bougainville, Solomen Islands, Guam, Rabaul, Tatawa, Kwajalein, Eninetok Atoll, Kavieng, Aitape, Hollandia, Wewak Harbor, Morotai, Leyte Gulf, Ryukyu, Okinawa, and Jaluit Atoll. He was awarded the following medals: Asiatic Pacific Defense Ribbon, Mediterranean Ribbon, Philippine Defense Ribbon, China Service Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, Occupation Ribbon, Korean Service Ribbon, and 13 battle stars. Before his retirement, he served on board 4 ships and had been around the world twice.
After 20 years in the service, he retired in Whitesboro, TX where he served as the City Manager and later as Director of the Urban Renewal Agency in Whitesboro and Georgetown. He also served as the Director of Community Development Agency in Sherman, TX.
His civic services included the Optimist Club, Rotary Club, State of Texas Urban Renewal Assoc., organizer/founder of the Whitesboro Public Library, Civil Defense Director, Chamber of Commerce, Grayson County College Technical Occupational Advisory Committee, Texas Chapter of the National Assoc. of Housing and Rehab. Officials, Retired Officers Assoc., Pearl Harbor Survivors Assoc., and was honored by being named Citizen of the Year in 1974 by the Whitesboro Rotary Club.
Graveside services will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, TX at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2009. Services are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home in Whitesboro.