Rocky is preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Lura Mae, his mother Blanche and father Walter, and his brother Ishmael. Rocky is survived by his brothers Walter Jr. and Wendell, his daughter Lynda and her husband Arthur Mendizabal, daughter Sandy and husband George Odom, son Ronnie and his wife Terry, and daughter Stephanie and her husband Craig Clay. In addition to their 4 children, Rocky and Lura Mae had 10 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, and 4 great grandsons and 4 great granddaughters. He is also survived by his special friend Naomi Funk and her family. Rocky was born on July 17 1919, in Detroit Texas. He served in the Flying Tigers division of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, and was stationed in China and India. He was a machinist at the Shell Deer Park refinery for over 15 years. Rocky worked in the landing and recovery department of NASA for over 20 years, and was a vital part of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Rocky and Lura Mae lived in Pasadena for most of their lives. For the past few years, Rocky lived in Somerville, Texas near his daughter Lynda. Rocky was a friend to many, a devoted husband, and beloved father.∼WEBSTER - Ronald Hal "Rocky" Rhodes, entered eternal rest Wednesday, April 2, 2008, in Bryan, after a fall and an emergency hip operation.
A memorial service was held April 12, at Memorial Park East funeral home chapel, Webster, with all of his extended family present and many beloved friends. His cremated remains are interred there with those of his wife.
He was born July 19, 1919, and grew up on farms south of Blossom, graduating from Blossom High School in 1938. He and his older brother, Ishmael, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on Sept. 10, 1940, where both served until World War II ended in 1945. He served with The Flying Tigers in India and China. He worked 15 years as a machinist for Shell Oil in the Deer Park refinery followed by 20 years with NASA in the landing and recovery department as a vital part of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, including the moon landings. After retirement, he worked a short while with the Pasadena School District where he lived most of his life with his wife and children. He moved to be near his daughter in Lake Somerville for the last few years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Lura Mae; his parents, Walter and Blanche; and brother, Ishmael.
He is survived by his brothers, Walter Jr. of Houston, and Wendell, of Pasadena.
He leaves behind his daughter, Lynda, and husband, Arthur Mendizabal, of Lake Somerville; daughter, Sandra, and husband, George Odom, of Sun City; son, Ronald Jr. "Ronnie," and wife, Terry, of Deer Park; and daughter, Stephanie, and husband, Craig Clay, of Seabrook. In addition, he leaves 10 grandsons; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and four great-granddaughters. His special friend, Naomi Funk, and family also survive.
He was friend to many, a devoted husband and much beloved father.
If desired, the family suggests any memorial donations be made to Burleson St. Joseph Manor Assisted Living Center in Caldwell, TX, 979-567-0920, where he spent his last few months.
A memorial service was held April 12, at Memorial Park East funeral home chapel, Webster, with all of his extended family present and many beloved friends. His cremated remains are interred there with those of his wife.
He was born July 19, 1919, and grew up on farms south of Blossom, graduating from Blossom High School in 1938. He and his older brother, Ishmael, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on Sept. 10, 1940, where both served until World War II ended in 1945. He served with The Flying Tigers in India and China. He worked 15 years as a machinist for Shell Oil in the Deer Park refinery followed by 20 years with NASA in the landing and recovery department as a vital part of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, including the moon landings. After retirement, he worked a short while with the Pasadena School District where he lived most of his life with his wife and children. He moved to be near his daughter in Lake Somerville for the last few years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Lura Mae; his parents, Walter and Blanche; and brother, Ishmael.
He is survived by his brothers, Walter Jr. of Houston, and Wendell, of Pasadena.
He leaves behind his daughter, Lynda, and husband, Arthur Mendizabal, of Lake Somerville; daughter, Sandra, and husband, George Odom, of Sun City; son, Ronald Jr. "Ronnie," and wife, Terry, of Deer Park; and daughter, Stephanie, and husband, Craig Clay, of Seabrook. In addition, he leaves 10 grandsons; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and four great-granddaughters. His special friend, Naomi Funk, and family also survive.
He was friend to many, a devoted husband and much beloved father.
If desired, the family suggests any memorial donations be made to Burleson St. Joseph Manor Assisted Living Center in Caldwell, TX, 979-567-0920, where he spent his last few months.
Rocky is preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Lura Mae, his mother Blanche and father Walter, and his brother Ishmael. Rocky is survived by his brothers Walter Jr. and Wendell, his daughter Lynda and her husband Arthur Mendizabal, daughter Sandy and husband George Odom, son Ronnie and his wife Terry, and daughter Stephanie and her husband Craig Clay. In addition to their 4 children, Rocky and Lura Mae had 10 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, and 4 great grandsons and 4 great granddaughters. He is also survived by his special friend Naomi Funk and her family. Rocky was born on July 17 1919, in Detroit Texas. He served in the Flying Tigers division of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, and was stationed in China and India. He was a machinist at the Shell Deer Park refinery for over 15 years. Rocky worked in the landing and recovery department of NASA for over 20 years, and was a vital part of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Rocky and Lura Mae lived in Pasadena for most of their lives. For the past few years, Rocky lived in Somerville, Texas near his daughter Lynda. Rocky was a friend to many, a devoted husband, and beloved father.∼WEBSTER - Ronald Hal "Rocky" Rhodes, entered eternal rest Wednesday, April 2, 2008, in Bryan, after a fall and an emergency hip operation.
A memorial service was held April 12, at Memorial Park East funeral home chapel, Webster, with all of his extended family present and many beloved friends. His cremated remains are interred there with those of his wife.
He was born July 19, 1919, and grew up on farms south of Blossom, graduating from Blossom High School in 1938. He and his older brother, Ishmael, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on Sept. 10, 1940, where both served until World War II ended in 1945. He served with The Flying Tigers in India and China. He worked 15 years as a machinist for Shell Oil in the Deer Park refinery followed by 20 years with NASA in the landing and recovery department as a vital part of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, including the moon landings. After retirement, he worked a short while with the Pasadena School District where he lived most of his life with his wife and children. He moved to be near his daughter in Lake Somerville for the last few years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Lura Mae; his parents, Walter and Blanche; and brother, Ishmael.
He is survived by his brothers, Walter Jr. of Houston, and Wendell, of Pasadena.
He leaves behind his daughter, Lynda, and husband, Arthur Mendizabal, of Lake Somerville; daughter, Sandra, and husband, George Odom, of Sun City; son, Ronald Jr. "Ronnie," and wife, Terry, of Deer Park; and daughter, Stephanie, and husband, Craig Clay, of Seabrook. In addition, he leaves 10 grandsons; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and four great-granddaughters. His special friend, Naomi Funk, and family also survive.
He was friend to many, a devoted husband and much beloved father.
If desired, the family suggests any memorial donations be made to Burleson St. Joseph Manor Assisted Living Center in Caldwell, TX, 979-567-0920, where he spent his last few months.
A memorial service was held April 12, at Memorial Park East funeral home chapel, Webster, with all of his extended family present and many beloved friends. His cremated remains are interred there with those of his wife.
He was born July 19, 1919, and grew up on farms south of Blossom, graduating from Blossom High School in 1938. He and his older brother, Ishmael, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on Sept. 10, 1940, where both served until World War II ended in 1945. He served with The Flying Tigers in India and China. He worked 15 years as a machinist for Shell Oil in the Deer Park refinery followed by 20 years with NASA in the landing and recovery department as a vital part of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, including the moon landings. After retirement, he worked a short while with the Pasadena School District where he lived most of his life with his wife and children. He moved to be near his daughter in Lake Somerville for the last few years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Lura Mae; his parents, Walter and Blanche; and brother, Ishmael.
He is survived by his brothers, Walter Jr. of Houston, and Wendell, of Pasadena.
He leaves behind his daughter, Lynda, and husband, Arthur Mendizabal, of Lake Somerville; daughter, Sandra, and husband, George Odom, of Sun City; son, Ronald Jr. "Ronnie," and wife, Terry, of Deer Park; and daughter, Stephanie, and husband, Craig Clay, of Seabrook. In addition, he leaves 10 grandsons; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and four great-granddaughters. His special friend, Naomi Funk, and family also survive.
He was friend to many, a devoted husband and much beloved father.
If desired, the family suggests any memorial donations be made to Burleson St. Joseph Manor Assisted Living Center in Caldwell, TX, 979-567-0920, where he spent his last few months.
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