Rex Veteto

On Saturday, August 9, 2025, 5:42am, Rex Richard (Rick) Veteto, a beloved husband and soulmate of Nancy Veteto, ascended into heaven to be with the Lord and end his pain and suffering on this earth. He had a very lengthy illness with asthma, COPD, AFIB, neuropathy and lots of pain having to use oxygen many times daily.

He was born on April 22, 1945, in the US Naval Hospital Located in Norman, OK, the firstborn son of Rex Remington Veteto and Nova Christine Dunlap Veteto. He lived in several different states throughout his childhood attending many different schools and having three additional brothers added to the family until they finally settled in Lowell, FL in 1959.

He enrolled in North Marion High School in Reddick FL as a freshman and met his future high school sweetheart, Nancy Yawn, who was a sophomore although she was also 14 having a birthday in December, starting first grade at 5 years old. He always bragged about her picking him out when he was 14 and for her it was "love at first sight" as she had to ask her friend, Maude, if she knew his name. He always referred to her as the original "cougar" being 4 months and 11 days older than he.

During the 3 years at North Marion HS, he was a member of student council, marching band where he played the saxophone, played sports including football (quarterback), basketball, and track. He was not only an outstanding athlete, but an excellent student who made the honor roll each marking period. He was able to attend Nancy's graduation and take her to the prom her senior year before his parents moved him away to Statesboro the summer of 1962 before his senior year. This was a sad time for both of them, but things worked out for them years later.

While attending Statesboro HS his senior year he was an outstanding quarterback on the football team and also an excellent student.

He attended Georgia Southern University and earned his BS in Education in 1969 and then his MS in Education at the University of GA in 1973. His work experience included the following:

1969-1972 - Industrial Arts Instructor in Dekalb County Schools-Decatur, GA

1972-1983 - Office/Procurement Manager with Gold Kist, INC - Statesboro, GA

1981-1983 - Sr. Electronics Inst & Tech Sales Rep-Total Tech Ins - Norcross, GA

1983-1987 - Manager/Owner Paul's Floor Service - Juneau, Alaska

1987-1989 - Purchasing Agent/Sales Supervisor B&W Electric Supply- Decatur, GA

In the fall of 1989 Rick contacted Nancy to see if they could get together after all the years apart. As a result of this contact, they were reunited and married on April 19, 1990.

In 1990-2002 - He received from the National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT) certification as a Personal Fitness Trainer, Advanced Personal Trainer, Master Trainer in Endurance, Nutrition and Weight Training, Fitness Studio Instructor in Aerobics, Circuit Training, Cardio & Weight Training and Resistance Exercise. We purchased a condo in 1992 in Orlando, FL and he did personal training in an outside facility until 2002 when he decided to utilize our 2d bedroom using a smith machine and lots of weight plates and dumbbells for resistance training. He put a stationary bicycle in our living room for cardio exercise.

In 2004 we purchased our FOREVER HOME(4BR/2Bath) with swimming pool and spa. He established a Professional Personal Training business in our home in which he set up the 2 back bedrooms with an Ultimate 2 machine and tower in one room and a smith bench and Revolution machine, along with many weight plates and dumbbells of all sizes in the other one. He utilized the dining room for cardio exercises having a stationary bicycle, treadmill, and elliptical machine. He conducted this business from 2005-2020, having over 15 clients whom we trained 2 to 3 days per week for one hour each of their visits. Each had individual plans and trained according to individual needs. Each client improved greatly over the years and said he was the best personal trainer with outstanding talent and knowledge they had ever experienced. A MASTER TRAINER, for sure.

In addition to running the Personal Training Business he was our POOL GUY, taking care of our huge Swimming Pool and SPA and also kept our automobiles in immaculate condition each day. He was known as THE KING OF THE GRILL as he had a large Stainless Steel Weber Grill we purchased from Ace Hardware many years ago. He prepared some types of food on the grill daily consisting of prime rib, steaks, burgers, hotdogs and brats, salmon, chicken, etc. Thank God we had 35 wonderful years of marriage prior to his passing.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, 2 brothers, Ronald D., Bessemer, AL and Thomas R(Reggie), Ft. Walton Beach, FL, 3 daughters and a son from 2 previous marriages and several grandchildren. His brothers, Randall, Rhett and Roal preceded him in death many years before.