Rex Alan Gruenwald

Rex Alan Gruenwald of Charlotte, NC passed away of natural causes on August 11, 2026 at Novant Main Campus in Charlotte.

Rex was the first of four children born July 22, 1952 at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas to Jack and Joyce Gruenwald. Rex was looked up to by three sisters, Karin, Ginger and Amy. Rex’s sense of adventure was developed by his mom Joyce who was creative and enterprising. Every holiday was something new and special.

In about 1964 Rex acquired a mentor in electrical engineering who was the start of his technical career. Not long after, Rex introduced his new friend and neighbor Max Parkhurst to his mother Joyce and in 1966 the two were married.

Rex graduated from Huntsville High School in Huntsville, AL in 1970. He was an ROTC cadet as he faced the possibility of being drafted for service in Vietnam.

After graduating Rex was contracted by NASA to climb and repair radio towers. He started with Mosler Safe Company in 1973 in Atlanta, GA. With Mosler he was moved around a bit and jumped to Columbia, SC and Greensboro, NC. He would travel in a van all day going from bank to bank working on their Remote Transaction Systems (pneumatic tubes). He was then promoted to working on their security and safety systems.

While working for Mosler, he was partnered with James Parker and they spent nine months working on a special project developing a tiny camera to go in the ATM’s of a credit union. This was brand new tech, and it was completely revolutionary. After the first installation, the bank added them to all of their ATMs. Not long after, a major beverage company started using them to prevent people from breaking into their vending machines. These cameras were key in solving a major theft and vandalism ring.

Rex met Diana Lynn Meyers-Anderson at the Four Seasons in Greensboro in 1975 and they were married in 1976. Their son Jack Alan Gruenwald was born in 1980 and Rex helped raise Lynn’s oldest son James Lee Anderson. His wife Lynn passed away in January 2001.

There were more moves around North Carolina as Rex moved up the ranks at Mosler. Unfortunately, Mosler Safe Company ceased operations and laid off its employees in 2001 leaving Rex untethered. Not surprising, Rex became a “wanted” man. His training, knowledge, skill and contacts in the banking and security industries were highly sought after. He continued working with several large national and international companies including ADT, Checkpoint, Branchserve and Convergent where he ended his career. His work was his passion and he was highly regarded by the people he worked with. He was precise, comprehensive and professional. If Rex was on the job, it was going to get done right!

His step-son Jamie introduced him to Sandy H. Hoffner in 2002 and set them up on a date. They were joined at the hip for ten years before he married her in 2012. Sandy brought two grown children to the relationship Eric and Amzi Hoffner. Rex remained close with Eric and his wife Amanda, and was excited when grandchildren Hannah and Trent Hoffner were born and really proud to meet great grand-daughter Hazel Skinner. Rex and Sandy acquired two feathered friends named Kiwi and Ollie and these parrots were his partners in crime for the rest of his life. Sandy passed away in 2013.

Rex loved travelling and would go anywhere and everywhere. He’d spend his free time digging in the dirt and making a masterpiece of his home. He didn’t know a stranger and was an adventurous “Energizer Bunny”. He was always the best at what he did.

Rex was preceded in death by his wife Lynn Gruenwald, father Jack Gruenwald, mother Joyce Parkhurst and wife Sandy Gruenwald. He is survived by his son Jack Alan (Tonya Braxton) Gruenwald, step-son James Lee Anderson, grandchildren Lane Anderson and Walker Anderson; step-son Eric (Amanda) Hoffner, grandkids Hanna (Nathan) Skinner and Trent Hoffner and great-granddaughter Hazel Skinner; three sisters, Karin Linenberger, Ginger (Steve) McClure, and Amy (Kevin) Baker; nieces Gianna (Mark) Scott, Lydia (Brian) Williams, and Sarah (Dusty) Hart; nephew Ethan (Maggie) McClure.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the restoration and maintenance of the B-29 Doc. You can send checks to: Doc’s Friends, PO Box 771089, Wichita, KS 67277. Or you can use their website: https://www.b29doc.com/donate/

Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Rd., Huntersville. A funeral service will immediately follow at 3:00 pm in the funeral home chapel.