Robert L. Rhodes

Robert L. “Bob” Rhodes, 94 of Elkhart, passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at Hubbard Hill Estates.

He was born May 30, 1923 in LaGrange to LeRoy and Frances (Ross) Rhodes. He married Kathryn J. Wilson on Sept 4, 1948 in Orland. She survives along with 2 sons, Richard (Kay) Rhodes of Elkhart and Donald (Jeanine) Rhodes of Madison, IN; 4 grandchildren, Lori Rhodes, Jamison Rhodes, Marc (Amanda) Dittmer and Megan (James) Duncan and 5 great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by a son, James K. Rhodes and a sister, Margaret Hardwick and his parents.

Bob graduated in 1942 from LaGrange High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Tri-State University. He served as a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. Most of his time in the service was spent in Hawaii in charge of repairing and vulcanizing tires for the military, a craft he learned from working in his father’s Goodyear Tire business.

Bob retired as a field auditor after 30 years with the Internal Revenue Service. He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church and formed the Simpson UMC Foundation, which is now the Faith UMC Foundation. He was a member and past master of the Meridian Sun Masonic Lodge in LaGrange and member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of South Bend, York Rite Bodies, and the Mizpah Shrine, Ft. Wayne. His real passion was his work for transporting children to the Shrine Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Visitation for Bob will be from 10 am to 12 pm Thursday, March 29th at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home where his service will begin at 12 pm. Pastor John Hogsett will officiate. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery where military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and the Goshen Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or the Hubbard Hill Memory Care Facility. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.