Rex A. Troyer

WOOSTER -- Rex A. Troyer, 53, entered into rest on Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, after a painful battle with cancer.

Born in Norfolk, Va., to Aaron and Emma (Schlabach) Troyer on Dec. 2, 1959, he moved to Ohio with his family in 1973 and had made his home in the Wooster area since then. Rex worked at The Daily Record for about 10 years during and after high school and eventually found his niche as a custom furniture craftsman.

Rex Troyer Rex enjoyed a challenge in his work and made many beautiful and original pieces, spending the last five years working with Countryside Oak. He had many interests throughout his life. He was an avid fisherman, sharing many times with family as well as spending time alone in the solitude of the outdoors; he enjoyed sitting out on the lake and time spent around a camp fire. He enjoyed riding his bicycle, going for long rides in the country. It was nothing to ride from Apple Creek to Reedsburg to visit.

Most of all, Rex found happiness playing his music. He was self-taught, spending hours at the record player, moving the needle back again and again until he got it "just right." He taught himself to play banjo, then guitar, mandolin and bass. Rex made many friends through the years traveling around playing in groups and jam sessions. He enjoyed judging at the fiddle contest the last years at the Wayne and Ashland County Fairs, and accompanied musicians on several CDs, even earning the title "The Musician's Musician" among his music friends.

Surviving are his mother, Emma of Wooster; brothers, Raymond (Linda) and Randy (Mary); sisters, Judy (Lance) Higgs and Sherry (Robert) Carney. He was uncle to Helen Nichols, Erin (Ryan) Sullivan, Erika (Chad) Kellum, Jessika (Mark) Graser, Rebecca (Levi) Trull, Abby (Cory) Bishop, and Emalee Higgs. He had great-nieces, Kathryn Sullivan and Naomi Kellum; and great-nephews, John Henry Sullivan, Samus Holliday and Nolan Kellum.

He was preceded in death by his father Aaron; and a niece, Samantha Troyer.