Walter Rhodes

REIDSVILLE, N.C. " Walter Clyde Rhodes, 91, of 1821 Pennrose Drive, Reidsville, NC (formerly Tupelo), died March 12, 2009, at Wesley Long Community Hospital in Greensboro, N.C. Born in Lula on September 3, 1917, to William Clyde Rhodes and Mary Patton Rhodes, he graduated from Brinkley (Arkansas) High School and attended the University of Arkansas where he was a member of SAE Fraternity. During most of his life, Rhodes worked in hotel management and became vice-president of the Mississippi Hotel-Motel Association. He was a World War II Navy veteran and former member of the Tupelo Rotary Club, CDF, and VFW. A faithful and active member of First United Methodist Church, he was a former member of the administrative board, the choir, and song leader of the Chapman Mens Sunday School Class. He volunteered at the Tupelo Police Department, the Shepherd Center, and Mended Hearts, Inc. where he served as president.

He was a founding member and past president of the Tupelo Tennis Association.

A memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Mary Elsie Pryor Rhodes of Reidsville, N.C.; two sons, William Joseph Rhodes (Carla) of Sykesville, Md., Charles Cottrell Rhodes Sr. (Bettie) of Reidsville, N.C.; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Rhodes Anderson (David) of Taneytown, Md., William Brian Rhodes of Sykesville, Md., Rachel Rhodes Hall (Zack) of Reidsville, N.C., Charles Cottrell Rhodes Jr. of Greensboro, N.C. and Elizabeth Rhodes Shepherd (Benjamin) of Reidsville, N.C.; and seven great-grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Anderson, Lauren Marie Anderson, Elizabeth Stocks Shepherd, Mary Milam Shepherd, Sarah Campbell Shepherd, John Zachariah Hall III and William Pierce Hall.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Bessie Rhodes McCarty.

The family requests that memorial gifts be made to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 854, Tupelo, MS 38802; or to the charity of the donors choice.