William L. "Bill" Rhoades, 75, of 2144 Bluewater Drive, Warsaw, died at 9:20 p.m. Aug. 26, 2008, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.
He was born March 26, 1933, in Warsaw, to Artie C. and Florence Linn Rhoades. On March 28, 1981, in Warsaw, he married Diana L. Smith, who survives.
A lifetime Warsaw resident, he was a field representative for Worthington Inc. for 28 years, retiring in 1988; owned Rhoades Service Co. from 1989-91; and worked at Ace Hardware. He was a member of Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church; Warsaw Masonic Lodge; Scottish Rite Fort Wayne Valley; Mizpah Shrine, Fort Wayne; American Legion Post 49, Warsaw; National Rifle Association; the Indiana Sheriff's Association; and a lifetime member of Warsaw Elks Club. He was a 5th District third-term Warsaw City councilman, serving on the traffic commission, Warsaw Housing Authority and was a streetlight liaison. He was an Engineman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1951-55, during the Korean War
Also surviving are three sons, Jeff Rhoades, Fort Wayne; Chris (and spouse Kathy) Rhoades, Warsaw; and Todd (and spouse Sue) Watkins, Nashville, Tenn.; two daughters, Stacy Leeper, Warsaw, Michelle Bamburg, Silver Lake; a brother, Robert (and spouse Barbara) Rhoades, Warsaw; 13 grandchildren: Jason Kane, Washington, D.C.; Ryan Rhoades, Columbia City; Megan Kane, Virginia Beach, Va.; Josh and Chelsy Rhoades, Brittany Blackburn, Kiira and James Leeper and Eric Watkins, all of Warsaw; Sean Kane, Johnstown, Pa.; Brandon Kane, Tennessee; and Chandler and Delanie Bamburg, both of Silver Lake; three great-grandchildren, Ian Rhoades, Columbia City, and Jace Rhoades and Colette Blackburn, both of Warsaw; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Rhoades Kane; a sister, Betty Dunwell; and a brother, Jack Rhoades.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, with Ernie Wiggins officiating and with military honors by members of American Legion Post 49 and VFW Post 1126.
No calling is planned.
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials to the American Legion Post 49 or Presby Preschool, c/o McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel.
Condolences may be sent to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
