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Mr. Rex Allen Podunavac Sr., 71, of Mocksville, entered into the presence of His Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on March 8, 2024.

Rex was born in Logan County, W.Va. in 1952 to the late Nick and Reva Watts Podunavac. He was born again on Dec. 26, 1971.

It was in Logan County where Rex met the love of his life, Mona. The first day of Marshall University Community College they met in music class. After school, Mona was going to walk about a mile to the bus station to catch a bus back home. It was pouring rain that day and Rex in his red, hot Volkswagen Beetle saw the damsel in distress and offered to give her a ride to the bus station, and the rest is history.

Rex worked in the coal mines of West Virginia until he was called to preach.  In 1983, with 4 kids and one on the way, Rex and Mona moved to Indiana to attend Bible college.

He graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Theology. For more than 25 years he served the Lord as a pastor, assistant pastor, Sunday school teacher, school principal, college professor and bus captain. For 15 years, he assisted Pastor Darrell Cox in starting and overseeing the Trinity Baptist Bible Institute. Rex had a servant’s heart and it showed in the life he lived. He loved to tell people about Jesus and help others develop their relationship with Christ.

Rex loved hunting, fishing, and boating. Even more, Rex loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren. You could not ask for a better husband, father, grandfather, or friend.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Joseph Dudley.

He is survived by: his wife of 50 years, Mona Podunavac; daughter, Nicole (Jeff) Dudley of Richwood, W.Va., daughter Amanda (James) Lunceford of Mocksville, son, Rex Podunavac Jr. of Mocksville, daughter, Bekah (Tommy) Sparks of Mocksville, daughter, Esther (Nathan) Shaffer of Theodore, Ala., daughter, Hannah (Ben) Morrissey of Theodore, sister, Brenda (Johnny) Rollins of West Virginia, brother, Randy (Wendy) Podunavac of Georgia; 17 precious grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m., Friday, March 15 at Trinity Baptist Church with Dr. Darrell Cox and Brother Jeff Dudley officiating. Interment will follow in Rose Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be considered for: Trinity Baptist Church bus ministry, 2722 US 601 S., Mocksville, NC 27028.

Online condolences: www.eatonfuneralservice.com.