Ronald D. Rhoades

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By -

COLUMBIA CITY - Ronald D. Rhoades, 83, formerly of South Whitley, died at 1:33 p.m. April 30, 2008, at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, Fort Wayne.

He was born March 15, 1925, in Fort Wayne, to Russell and Ruth Stucky Rhoades. On April 8, 1946, he married Christine Bowling, who died Aug. 16, 2000. On July 22, 2002, he married Maxine Tucker Chalk, who survives.

A 1943 South Whitley High School graduate, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 6, 1944, and served in the European Theatre during WWII. He was honorably discharged June 30, 1946.

He worked as a foreman at Peabody Seating Co., North Manchester, where he retired after 34 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 286, North Manchester; Veterans of Foreign Wars 2919, South Whitley; and attended Liberty Mills United Methodist Church.

Also surviving are two daughters, Lana R. Wheeler, Columbia City, and Teresa (and spouse Ray) Helton, Lakevilla, Ill.; three sons: Roger and Rick L. (and spouse Deborah) Rhoades, Fort Wayne; and Ronnie G. Rhoades, Columbia City; two stepsons, Carl (and spouse Rita) Chalk, Columbia City, and David Chalk, Laketon; two stepdaughters, Peggy (and spouse Perry) Townsley, Lutz, Fla., and Terri (and spouse Greg) Caughell, Roann; two brothers, Russell Rhoades Jr., South Whitley, and Harold Rhoades, Columbia City; one sister, Maxine Johnson, Warsaw; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, seven stepgrandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Rhoades.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley, with the Rev. Greg Bradford officiating. Burial will be in the South Whitley Cemetery with North Manchester American Legion Post 286 presenting honors.

Calling is 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

*****

Memorials to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home or the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com[[In-content Ad]]

COLUMBIA CITY - Ronald D. Rhoades, 83, formerly of South Whitley, died at 1:33 p.m. April 30, 2008, at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, Fort Wayne.

He was born March 15, 1925, in Fort Wayne, to Russell and Ruth Stucky Rhoades. On April 8, 1946, he married Christine Bowling, who died Aug. 16, 2000. On July 22, 2002, he married Maxine Tucker Chalk, who survives.

A 1943 South Whitley High School graduate, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 6, 1944, and served in the European Theatre during WWII. He was honorably discharged June 30, 1946.

He worked as a foreman at Peabody Seating Co., North Manchester, where he retired after 34 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 286, North Manchester; Veterans of Foreign Wars 2919, South Whitley; and attended Liberty Mills United Methodist Church.

Also surviving are two daughters, Lana R. Wheeler, Columbia City, and Teresa (and spouse Ray) Helton, Lakevilla, Ill.; three sons: Roger and Rick L. (and spouse Deborah) Rhoades, Fort Wayne; and Ronnie G. Rhoades, Columbia City; two stepsons, Carl (and spouse Rita) Chalk, Columbia City, and David Chalk, Laketon; two stepdaughters, Peggy (and spouse Perry) Townsley, Lutz, Fla., and Terri (and spouse Greg) Caughell, Roann; two brothers, Russell Rhoades Jr., South Whitley, and Harold Rhoades, Columbia City; one sister, Maxine Johnson, Warsaw; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, seven stepgrandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Rhoades.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley, with the Rev. Greg Bradford officiating. Burial will be in the South Whitley Cemetery with North Manchester American Legion Post 286 presenting honors.

Calling is 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

*****

Memorials to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home or the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Darrel Rensberger
Darrel Rensberger, 64, Warsaw, died Sunday, May 4, 2025.

Berta C. Gayheart
Berta C. Gayheart, 78, died Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake.

Douglas Farrel
Douglas Farrel, Claypool, died Monday, May 5, 2025.

Evelyn Ruth Adams
Evelyn Ruth Adams, of Leesburg, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake. She was 96 years old.

Angelia ‘Angie’ Sue Preston
NORTH MANCHESTER – Angelia "Angie" Sue Preston, North Manchester, died May 4, 2025.