Thomas James

“Sonny” Rux

Thomas James "Sonny" Rux, 84, of Archer City, retired U.S. Navy and former local businessman, reunited in Heaven with his  wife Louise on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 22.  He was released from his earthly duties at his home with his daughters at his side after a very recent cancer diagnosis.

Sonny's ashes will be interred into a joint plot with Louise at Archer County Cemetery.  Plans for a memorial service are pending.

After "retiring" from the Navy, Sonny and Louise settled in Archer City, raising two daughters and two more generations of descendants as legal parents.  The youngest of those will graduate high school next May.

Sonny graduated from Navy boot camp in San Diego, Calif., in April 1958, near his 19th birthday.  He initially served as a signalman, later joining the nuclear submarine fleet as a radioman, tracking Soviet subs across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

In 1964, the family was stationed in the Philippines and subsequently re-stationed to Minneapolis, Minn., San Diego, Calif., and Charleston, S.C.

The Rux family moved from Charleston to Archer City in 1975, two years before Sonny's retirement.

Sonny worked for his father-in-law's business, Finis Kinsey Ditching Service, before purchasing the company and transforming it into Rux Brothers Construction, with his brother Richard.  Sonny went on to drive milk trucks with various companies in Windthorst, and later started long-distance hauling as SR Trucking, accompanied by his grandson.

Thomas was born April 20, 1939, in Graham, Texas, the first of six boys.  He spent most of his childhood in the Newcastle, Murray and Olney areas of Young County.

A chance meeting in 1957 with Helen "Louise" Kinsey led to a life-long bond that never wavered.  Sonny married the daughter of Finis Kinsey and Lena Kuykendall, Dec. 31, 1958, in Graham.  They began their joint journey in Long Beach, Calif.

Sonny was a lover of Western shows and movies, Naval ships and vessels, and the Dallas Cowboys.  He was extremely proud of his Navy career and the service of three of his brothers.  Sonny was quick to thank and chat with veterans.  When friends appeared, even until his final days, he remained sharp-witted and traded jokes to make people laugh.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Vernie Rux (1958) and Margie Wages (2000); wife Louise (2019), Manager of Facilities for the Clinics of North Texas and later employed at Haigood & Campbell; brothers Virgil Rux (2010), Richard Rux (2016), Gary Rux (1981) and Stephen Whatley (2019); and granddaughter Ayme Alsup (1991).

Sonny is survived by two daughters: Tina Louise Alsup and Sonya Ann Winston (John), both of Archer City; five grandchildren: Chris Graham of Archer City; Kinsey Birdwell (Matt) of Graham, Wade Alsup (Chelsey) and Cole Alsup (Lexus), both of Wichita Falls, and Jesse Alsup of Denison, Texas; bonus grandchild Jadalynn Baugh of Archer City; three great-grandchildren: Jayce Graham, Kodi Graham and Leiah Graham, all of Wichita Falls; two bonus great-granddaughters Tailor Mason and Alana Fancher-Alsup, both of Wichita Falls; and brother Michael Whatley (Becky) of Canadian, Texas.

The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions be made in Sonny's name to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, nmcrs.org, to assist active and retired Sailors and Marines in financial need;  Beyond Faith Hospice, 1702 Kell Blvd., Wichita Falls 76301; or Archer County Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 198, Archer City 76351.