Rex King Funnell's Obituary
Rex King Funnell (King), 80, died on October 10, 2023 after a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. He was born to the late Rex B. and Bertha Jane (King) Funnell on May 10, 1943. King graduated from Whitehall High School in 1961. He received an associate degree from Muskegon Community College and attended Western Michigan University. He then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to obtain a certificate in Mortuary Science.
Upon completion of that certificate, he returned to Whitehall and worked at the Purdy Funeral Home for a few years. Baseball was always in his blood, so he decided to follow a dream of becoming a major league umpire. He went to umpire training school and became a minor league umpire. At the end of the season, he was selected to be an umpire for the AAA World Series game. Unfortunately, a family emergency prevented him from pursuing that career, so he returned home to the Whitehall area and went to work at Howmet Precision Casting Company. King then transferred to the Howmet plant in La Porte, Indiana and became manufacturing manager at that facility. He worked there until he retired. Following retirement, he stayed in the La Porte area and worked in a sporting goods store.
In high school, King was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was recognized for these skills when he was inducted into the Whitehall High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
King was a long-time member of the White Lake Golf Club and enjoyed many weekend golf outings with his dad, brother Bob, and brother-in-law, Jim. In 2010 he moved back to the White Lake area and bought a home in the Stonegate Golf Course Community. He was soon seen mowing greens and fairways in the early mornings.
King will be greatly missed by his partner, Dolores Browndorf, his sons Jeffrey Rex (Wendelin Lockett), Timothy Wayne, and Michael Rex, five grandchildren, Conner, Cayla, Austin, Noah, and Joslynn, sister Marcia (Jim Runyan) Funnell, brother Robert (Robin) Funnell and two nephews Ryan and Matthew.
He will also be missed by Dolores' family including her mother, Dolores, her siblings, children, grandchildren, especially Olivia with whom he had a special relationship.
King also known as Rex (by many) will be remembered for his love of sports both as a fan and an athlete, his sense of humor, his not-so-even temper on the golf course and enjoyment of good times with family and friends.
Please join King's family on August 11, 2024, from 2-4 PM at the White Lake Golf Course Practice Facility, 6355 Michillinda Road, Whitehall, Michigan, 49461 as we remember King with a Celebration of his Life.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) at LLS.org.
Shoreline Memorial Services of Muskegon Ph. 231-722-5050
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