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(WHAS11) - Robley Rex died early Tuesday morning at the VA Medical Center.
Because of his smile and personality, some may have mistaken him as some kind of mascot for veterans.
But he was much more.
He was an advocate for veterans' rights for more than 80 years.
Until just a couple of years ago, Rex was a tenacious volunteer at the Veteran's Administration Hospital.
That's where he talked to WHAS11 about his decision to leave Christian County, Kentucky in 1918 to join the infantry.
Rex logged more than 12,000 volunteer hours and was recognized nationally by the VFW.
He was one of the oldest surviving WWI-era veterans.
A Veteran's Administration official says Rex's funeral will take place after Derby weekend.
Rex would have been 108 years old on Derby day.
