EDMOND — SSG Rex Lloyd Schad, 26, of Edmond, was killed in action March 11, 2013 in Jalrez, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, while conducting a patrol brief with the Afghanistan National Police. He was assigned to Company A, 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, 1BCT, Fort Stewart, Ga., serving as an Army Squad Leader on his second deployment to Afghanistan.
Rex was born January 29, 1987 at Lemoore Naval Air Station, Calif., to Rex and Colleen (Whipple) Schad. At the age of two, Rex moved to Oklahoma and graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 2005. On February 15, 2006, he enlisted in the Army Infantry assigned to 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea including other assignments to Fort Lewis, WA and Fort Stewart, GA. For his seven years of Army service, SSG Rex L. Schad is being awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with“V” (Valor), including prior awards two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Star – four, and other awards. Badges awarded include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and other badges.
Rex is survived by his mother, Colleen A. Whipple, Edmond; father, Rex J. Schad, Shawnee, Okla.; brother, Max J. and wife Miranda Whipple, Fort Wainwright, Ark.; maternal grandfather, Harold L. Whipple of Edmond; paternal grandparents, Rex A. and Joanne Schad, Fort Myers, Fla., aunt, Kathleen Abdelaal of Edmond; uncle Peter and wife Sheryl Whipple, Mountain Grove, Mo; aunt, Mary Beth Schad, Chicago, Ill; uncle Brad Schad of Chicago, IL; fiancé, Ana Sabrina Carmona of Atlanta, Ga., and 13 cousins.
He was preceded in death by his Nana, Christina Beryl Whipple and aunt, Christina Whipple Page.
A note written in a card received by Rex’s family best describes his character; “He touched my heart and soul with his laughter and kindness. He’s the type that could lift anybody up and make them feel positivity. I wish things were different – as does everybody, but at the same time I’m so proud of him. It’s amazing that such a short life could touch so many people for the better. I’ve never met a person that didn’t absolutely adore Rex. He’s left an impression on so many hearts. He’s truly somebody to look up to.”
Rex was a marathon runner and ran marathons in Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta. He convinced some of his Army peers to also run, sometimes running in their Army boots with backbacks. He ran in an American Cancer Society marathon just four days before he left for Afghanistan.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Edmond LifeChurch, I-35 and 2nd Street. The family requests memorials be made to Fisher House Foundation, USO, Wounded Warrior Project or to the Patriot Riders. Services entrusted to the care of Baggerley Funeral Home of Edmond, Oklahoma.
www.baggerley.com
