SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Dr. Rex Stanley Harper, Sr., 90, of Cumberland, MD and recently of Dogwood Forest Assisted Living in Marietta, GA., died Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA, from complications of COPD and pneumonia.

Born October 5, 1919, in Estill, SC, Dr. Harper was the son of James Randall and Mary Daily Harper and grew up in Savannah, GA.  Following his discharge from the U.S. Army during WWII, he worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority and then attended the University of Georgia where he earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Forestry.  Later he earned a Ph.D. in Forestry from West Virginia University.  He had a long professional career in forestry that included the Florida Forest Service in Tallahassee, FL; International Paper Company in Bainbridge, GA and Mobile, AL (where he was instrumental in the development of Turfiber), Savannah Vocational-Technical School in Savannah, GA, and Alleghany Community College in Cumberland, MD.  He ended his professional forestry career managing the Cumberland Watershed Forest in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Harper was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  An active member of Cresaptown United Methodist Church in Cumberland, MD, he was a member and long time teacher of the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School class.  Most recently he was a member of East Cobb United Methodist Church in Marietta, GA, and a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class. 

Dr. Harper was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, The Society of American Foresters, The Southeastern Society of American Foresters, The Golden Cypress Knee Society, UGA Alumni Association, WVU Forestry Alumni Association, and The American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mary Helen Bailey Harper, two brothers and one sister. 

Survivors include one daughter, Sharon Elizabeth Sokol of Mobile, AL; two sons, Rex S. Harper Jr. of Marietta, GA and Max Christopher Harper of Savannah, GA; one sister, Dorothy H. Williams of St. Simons, GA; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and the last great love of his life, Elizabeth Nelms.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 14, at 2:00 PM at Gamble Funeral Home, 410 Stephenson Ave, Savannah, GA, with visitation preceding the funeral at 12:00 PM.  Burial will follow at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

The Rev. Craig Pope of Montgomery Presbyterian Church, Savannah, GA will preside over the funeral.