Rex Gene Boykin

Visitation for friends and family will be September 30, 2025 from 5 pm to 8 pm at Curtis and Sons Funeral Home. (1315 Old Talladega Highway (Highway 21) Sylacauga, AL 35150).

Family only graveside services will be the next day, Wednesday October 1, 2025, at 1 pm in Marble City Cemetery in Sylacauga, Alabama. (616 W Fourth St, Sylacauga, AL 35150)

Mr. Boykin lived all but a few years of his life in Sylacauga. He graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1951, and from the University of Alabama in 1955 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He did graduate work at Rice University and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 1987 he was named outstanding chemical engineer by the University of Alabama Department of Chemical Engineering.

Mr. Boykin served four years active duty in the U.S. Navy as an ordnance engineer. He continued for a total of twenty-three years’ service in the U.S. Navy Ready Reserve. He retired from Naval service in 1978.

Mr. Boykin’s industrial career as a licensed engineer spanned almost forty years and included work with Shell Chemical Corp as a Production Engineer; El Paso/Beaunit as Vice President and General Manager; and Great Lakes Chemical Corp. as Director of advanced technology. He was president and CEO of Alcon Development Company which specialized in pharmaceutical and chemical plant design and construction. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Hauser International Corp., La Marque, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Wesley E. and Lena Laura, and his brother Jack Wesley Boykin. Also preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Jo Ann McLendon Boykin.

Mr. Boykin is survived by his sons Greg Boykin (Jan), Michael Paul Boykin (Carol), granddaughter Samantha Boykin Reno (Jeff), and great granddaughter Annsley.

Mr. Boykin’s hobbies included mathematics, music, and amateur radio. He was an extra class licensed amateur and served as trustee of the South Talladega County Amateur Radio Society for several years.

Pall bearers will include Jeff Reno, Chuck Davis, and Johnny Sims.

Honorary pall bearers will include Tom E. Forbus, Pat Rhodes, and the Amateur Radio Operators of Talladega County.

Graveside service will be officiated by a family friend.

The family will receive flowers or donations to the First United Methodist Church of Sylacauga.

Online condolences may be made on the Curtis and Sons Funeral Home website.

(https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/alabama/sylacauga/curtis-and-son-funeral-home/7009)

Curtis and Sons will be directing all services.