Obituary: RANDALL REX ROUSE
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Randall “Rex” Rouse, Jr of Eden, NC, died Saturday, February 3, 2024 at Moses Cone Hospital after a 15 year battle with congestive heart failure. He was a wonderful husband, brother, father, D+Daddy, respected CPA, avid Tar Heel, and life-long Episcopalian.
Rex was born August 30, 1938 in Kinston, NC to the late Randall Rex Rouse, Sr. and Carrie Nunn Williams Rouse. He grew up in Raleigh, NC and graduated from Broughton High School in 1956 where he was first chair bass clarinet. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he participated in the Marching Tar Heels and graduated with an undergraduate degree in accounting in 1960. Upon graduation he started his career in accounting, ultimately establishing his own firm in December of 1965. Rouse, Rouse, Rouse, and Gardner, LLP is a thriving business in Eden of which two of his partners are his wife and son. He truly loved his CPA practice and cherished all his client relationships. Never wanting to retire, he was working until the day he entered the hospital.
Rex was an avid sports fan who wouldn’t dream of missing a Carolina men’s or women’s basketball or football game. He was in the Rams Club and had football season tickets for many years. He especially loved watching his grandchildren compete. Swimming, tennis, baseball, field hockey, and soccer events filled many weekends as he traveled watching Hannah, Rachel and Reid.
Rex was a proud Episcopalian. He loved singing in the choir starting at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh and continued to share his love of music and the church with the Church of the Epiphany in Eden. From serving in the vestry, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and singing in the Epiphany Trio, he loved his church family.
Rex was a valued citizen of Eden. He was an accomplished Eagle Scout earning 21 merit badges. He was also a member of the Army National Guard. In Eden he served as Treasurer of the United Way for 24 years, and served as President and Treasurer of the Draper and Eden Rotary Clubs. Rex also was on the local Board of Southern National Bank and later the board of BB&T for many years.
Rex had a tremendous love of travel, adventure, and the water. Rex and Judy traveled together to all 50 states, numerous countries, and historical sites. They completed river trips on the Mississippi, Columbia, Ohio, the Danube, the Mein, and the Rhine, but his love of waterway travel began as a child on a creek in his Raleigh neighborhood. He continued to connect trips over his lifetime traveling by water from Raleigh, down the Neuse river to the intracoastal waterway and on to Key Biscayne, Florida. Later in life, he continued his travel, this time primarily by kayak on the Dan. He traveled from Danbury to Edenton and on to Swansboro NC connecting the trips he began in his Raleigh neighborhood.
His greatest passion was his family. He was a devoted husband for 57 years to the love of his life, Judy. He was a dedicated father to his son, Victor. His grandchildren, Hannah, Rachel, and Reid loved their D+Daddy. He not only adored them but was so very proud of each one.
Rex was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Judy Grogan Rouse; his son, Victor Rouse (Deanna); and his grandchildren, Hannah (Liam Ward), Rachel, and Reid. He is also survived by his sisters Gaille Smith, Carrie Witter (Gary), Anne Clarke (John), brother in law Kennis Grogan (Billie), and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Church of the Epiphany, 538 Henry Street, Eden, NC 27288 or the Eden Boys and Girls Club, 1026 Harris Street, Eden, NC 27288 or the UNC Rockingham Foundation, 117 E. Kings Hwy, Eden, NC 27288.
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