David was the son of Roy Buckner Rhodes and Evelyn Beth VanSickle; along with siblings, Carl and Mary. The family moved to Weirton in the early 1940s. David graduated with the 1955 class of Weir High and was a life-long member of the Weirton First Church of the Nazarene.
He met and married the love of his life, Ruth Elaine Bilby from Follansbee and together they enjoyed a life full of love, laughter, children, and travel. David was an enthusiastic traveler, and every summer the family would load up their camper and travel the back roads of the U.S., exploring points of interest. They visited all 48 continental states at least once.
David was a talented woodworker who worked as a carpenter for the Weirton Steel Mill from age 20 until his retirement at age 54. He and Ruth then took to traveling year-round and spent winters in their St. Petersburg, FL home and summers driving their RV visiting family and friends. They continued exploring the country until Ruth’s early passing at the age of 64. David then moved to Fairmont for a few years then moved and settled into the Annapolis, MD area.
David was a fun loving, generous and dedicated Christian man who enjoyed playing trumpet in the church orchestra, mentoring youth, and driving red pick up trucks. However, if you asked David his greatest accomplishment he would proudly answer it was being a dedicated father to his four children, Roy Timothy Rhodes, Daniel Franklin Rhodes, Faith Rhodes Tennent, and Grace Rhodes D’Esterre.
His children kept him busy as a young father, then even busier as a middle aged man as his family grew to include sons- and daughters-in-law, David, Guy, and Debbie; beloved grandchildren: Sarah Tennent Simmons, Alexander D’Esterre, Julia D’Esterre Kunlo, and Danielle Rhodes. His grandchildren’s spouses added more joy: Raymond, Amanda, and Robert, and now three great- granddaughters, Anna, Rosalie, and Jolene have added to his happiness and legacy. David was always the first to offer a strong hug, an open heart, and a kind word. His special gift was making those around him feel treasured, truly loved, and respected. With David his friends became family and family was his special calling. David’s passion of travel continued up until his death with drives around the beautiful back country of Southern MD with his beloved sister, Mary Whitley at the wheel. He enjoyed road trips visiting his Aunt Ruth VanSickle Stockman in WV, boat excursions exploring the Chesapeake Bay, and flying with his twin daughters to visit both of his sons in Texas. David’s illness came quickly but we find solace in knowing he lived a long and robust life and his death was mercifully quick and pain free – and most importantly he was ready to go to heaven. As author Justin Cronin wrote “As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.”
A celebration of life ceremony will be held this summer and he will be laid to rest at St. Johns Cemetery in Colliers next to the love of his life.
He met and married the love of his life, Ruth Elaine Bilby from Follansbee and together they enjoyed a life full of love, laughter, children, and travel. David was an enthusiastic traveler, and every summer the family would load up their camper and travel the back roads of the U.S., exploring points of interest. They visited all 48 continental states at least once.
David was a talented woodworker who worked as a carpenter for the Weirton Steel Mill from age 20 until his retirement at age 54. He and Ruth then took to traveling year-round and spent winters in their St. Petersburg, FL home and summers driving their RV visiting family and friends. They continued exploring the country until Ruth’s early passing at the age of 64. David then moved to Fairmont for a few years then moved and settled into the Annapolis, MD area.
David was a fun loving, generous and dedicated Christian man who enjoyed playing trumpet in the church orchestra, mentoring youth, and driving red pick up trucks. However, if you asked David his greatest accomplishment he would proudly answer it was being a dedicated father to his four children, Roy Timothy Rhodes, Daniel Franklin Rhodes, Faith Rhodes Tennent, and Grace Rhodes D’Esterre.
His children kept him busy as a young father, then even busier as a middle aged man as his family grew to include sons- and daughters-in-law, David, Guy, and Debbie; beloved grandchildren: Sarah Tennent Simmons, Alexander D’Esterre, Julia D’Esterre Kunlo, and Danielle Rhodes. His grandchildren’s spouses added more joy: Raymond, Amanda, and Robert, and now three great- granddaughters, Anna, Rosalie, and Jolene have added to his happiness and legacy. David was always the first to offer a strong hug, an open heart, and a kind word. His special gift was making those around him feel treasured, truly loved, and respected. With David his friends became family and family was his special calling. David’s passion of travel continued up until his death with drives around the beautiful back country of Southern MD with his beloved sister, Mary Whitley at the wheel. He enjoyed road trips visiting his Aunt Ruth VanSickle Stockman in WV, boat excursions exploring the Chesapeake Bay, and flying with his twin daughters to visit both of his sons in Texas. David’s illness came quickly but we find solace in knowing he lived a long and robust life and his death was mercifully quick and pain free – and most importantly he was ready to go to heaven. As author Justin Cronin wrote “As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.”
A celebration of life ceremony will be held this summer and he will be laid to rest at St. Johns Cemetery in Colliers next to the love of his life.
David was the son of Roy Buckner Rhodes and Evelyn Beth VanSickle; along with siblings, Carl and Mary. The family moved to Weirton in the early 1940s. David graduated with the 1955 class of Weir High and was a life-long member of the Weirton First Church of the Nazarene.
He met and married the love of his life, Ruth Elaine Bilby from Follansbee and together they enjoyed a life full of love, laughter, children, and travel. David was an enthusiastic traveler, and every summer the family would load up their camper and travel the back roads of the U.S., exploring points of interest. They visited all 48 continental states at least once.
David was a talented woodworker who worked as a carpenter for the Weirton Steel Mill from age 20 until his retirement at age 54. He and Ruth then took to traveling year-round and spent winters in their St. Petersburg, FL home and summers driving their RV visiting family and friends. They continued exploring the country until Ruth’s early passing at the age of 64. David then moved to Fairmont for a few years then moved and settled into the Annapolis, MD area.
David was a fun loving, generous and dedicated Christian man who enjoyed playing trumpet in the church orchestra, mentoring youth, and driving red pick up trucks. However, if you asked David his greatest accomplishment he would proudly answer it was being a dedicated father to his four children, Roy Timothy Rhodes, Daniel Franklin Rhodes, Faith Rhodes Tennent, and Grace Rhodes D’Esterre.
His children kept him busy as a young father, then even busier as a middle aged man as his family grew to include sons- and daughters-in-law, David, Guy, and Debbie; beloved grandchildren: Sarah Tennent Simmons, Alexander D’Esterre, Julia D’Esterre Kunlo, and Danielle Rhodes. His grandchildren’s spouses added more joy: Raymond, Amanda, and Robert, and now three great- granddaughters, Anna, Rosalie, and Jolene have added to his happiness and legacy. David was always the first to offer a strong hug, an open heart, and a kind word. His special gift was making those around him feel treasured, truly loved, and respected. With David his friends became family and family was his special calling. David’s passion of travel continued up until his death with drives around the beautiful back country of Southern MD with his beloved sister, Mary Whitley at the wheel. He enjoyed road trips visiting his Aunt Ruth VanSickle Stockman in WV, boat excursions exploring the Chesapeake Bay, and flying with his twin daughters to visit both of his sons in Texas. David’s illness came quickly but we find solace in knowing he lived a long and robust life and his death was mercifully quick and pain free – and most importantly he was ready to go to heaven. As author Justin Cronin wrote “As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.”
A celebration of life ceremony will be held this summer and he will be laid to rest at St. Johns Cemetery in Colliers next to the love of his life.
He met and married the love of his life, Ruth Elaine Bilby from Follansbee and together they enjoyed a life full of love, laughter, children, and travel. David was an enthusiastic traveler, and every summer the family would load up their camper and travel the back roads of the U.S., exploring points of interest. They visited all 48 continental states at least once.
David was a talented woodworker who worked as a carpenter for the Weirton Steel Mill from age 20 until his retirement at age 54. He and Ruth then took to traveling year-round and spent winters in their St. Petersburg, FL home and summers driving their RV visiting family and friends. They continued exploring the country until Ruth’s early passing at the age of 64. David then moved to Fairmont for a few years then moved and settled into the Annapolis, MD area.
David was a fun loving, generous and dedicated Christian man who enjoyed playing trumpet in the church orchestra, mentoring youth, and driving red pick up trucks. However, if you asked David his greatest accomplishment he would proudly answer it was being a dedicated father to his four children, Roy Timothy Rhodes, Daniel Franklin Rhodes, Faith Rhodes Tennent, and Grace Rhodes D’Esterre.
His children kept him busy as a young father, then even busier as a middle aged man as his family grew to include sons- and daughters-in-law, David, Guy, and Debbie; beloved grandchildren: Sarah Tennent Simmons, Alexander D’Esterre, Julia D’Esterre Kunlo, and Danielle Rhodes. His grandchildren’s spouses added more joy: Raymond, Amanda, and Robert, and now three great- granddaughters, Anna, Rosalie, and Jolene have added to his happiness and legacy. David was always the first to offer a strong hug, an open heart, and a kind word. His special gift was making those around him feel treasured, truly loved, and respected. With David his friends became family and family was his special calling. David’s passion of travel continued up until his death with drives around the beautiful back country of Southern MD with his beloved sister, Mary Whitley at the wheel. He enjoyed road trips visiting his Aunt Ruth VanSickle Stockman in WV, boat excursions exploring the Chesapeake Bay, and flying with his twin daughters to visit both of his sons in Texas. David’s illness came quickly but we find solace in knowing he lived a long and robust life and his death was mercifully quick and pain free – and most importantly he was ready to go to heaven. As author Justin Cronin wrote “As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.”
A celebration of life ceremony will be held this summer and he will be laid to rest at St. Johns Cemetery in Colliers next to the love of his life.
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