Obituary of Richard Everett Rhoades

Richard Everett Rhoades, 88, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2014. He was a native of Arizona, having been born in Winslow, AZ, on November 7, 1925, to Elva Elizabeth (Howell) and Richard Carroll Rhoades. He is survived by his wife, June; five children, Richard Stephen (Rosa), Charles Everett (Lucy), Carol Elizabeth Schaecher (Ken), Mary Ann Versluis (George), and David Frazer (Toni); ten grandchildren, Jaclyn, Kelly, Alex, Marissa, Andrew, Lisa, Erin, Anthony, Taylor, Cassidy; and six great-grandchildren. Richard "Dick" was inducted in the US Naval Reserve in 1943 and served on the USS Princeton after he received a reserve commission. He was a graduate of both Rice University (Mechanical Engineering) and the University of Arizona (Mining Engineering). Dick accepted a job offer in 1948 in Ajo, AZ, at Phelps Dodge Corporation's New Cornelia Branch and spent the next 42 years working for the company at several locations in Arizona (New Cornelia Branch, Morenci Branch, and Western Operations Headquarters in Douglas) and New Mexico (Tyrone Branch). Dick was married to the love of his life, June Eva Cooledge, in Bisbee, AZ, on June 6, 1954. All five children were born while the family lived in Ajo. Services will be held at the Silver City Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on Friday, April 11, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel.