Dr. Rex Weldon Millhollon
1931-2020
Dr. Rex Weldon Millhollon, 89, died May 3, 2020, in Houma, La., from an abdominal aneurysm.
Rex was an internationally-respected United States Department of Agriculture research agronomist, military veteran and native Texan. Most of all, he was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose life centered on his family.
Rex was born May 1, 1931, to Eddie Lloyd and Tommie Stark Millhollon in Scurry County. He was their only child. In 1952, Rex married Paula Milo Creekmore. They started 67 years of married life in Virginia before eventually settling in Houma, La., where they built a house and raised four children.
Rex earned a bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University in agriculture education, and a bachelor of science degree in plant science as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. For 40 years, he worked at the USDA Sugar Cane Field Laboratory in Houma.
Rex was dearly loved by his family. He was a devoted caregiver to his wife, became an ordained minister to officiate at his granddaughter’s wedding and delighted in showing off pictures of his great-grandchildren. He loved anything sweet, had a great sense of humor and doted on his cat. He also had a deep and abiding faith in the Lord.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Aimee Celeste Lagarde; and his great-grandson, William Ryland.
Survivors include his wife, Paula; four children, Dr. Eddie Millhollon and his wife, Penny, Dr. Brian Millhollon and his wife, Catherine, Brenna Millhollon Barthel and her husband, Bobby, and Scott Millhollon; six grandchildren, Michelle Millhollon Guilbeau and her husband, Glenn, Linda Millhollon Ryland and her husband, Jack, Paula Lagarde Bascle and her husband, Chad, and Jonathan Millhollon, Martin Millhollon and Eric Millhollon; and two great-grandchildren, Elise and Benjamin Ryland.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation in Rex’s name at www.lymphoma.org. Rex battled angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in the final months of his life.