J. Thomas Rhodes, Sr.

QUEENSTOWN, MD: James Thomas Rhodes, Sr. of Queenstown, MD died at Corsica Hills Nursing Home, Centreville, MD on Thursday, September 25, 2008. He was 90. Tom was born June 6, 1918, on the “Farm Beverly” located at the rear of St. Peter’s Church property near Queenstown, MD. The son of Louis Kennard and Florence Estelle McConnor Rhodes, he attended Queenstown Elementary School and graduated from Centreville High School in 1935. He served with the 29th Division Infantry from April 30,1941, until his discharge from the service in April, 1945. During this period he participated in D Day, June 16,1944, as well as the capture of St. Lo on July18,1944, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Medal He was the youngest of three brothers who served in WWII. He married Ruth Lauretta Hall, daughter of Theobold and Sarah Catherine Redman Hall of Church Hill, MD, on September 8,1945, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church near Queenstown, MD. After serving as manager of Wilson Feed Company, Centreville, MD for 14 years, Tom then owned and operated Rhodes Market in Queenstown for 3 years. He worked as U.S. Postal rural mail carrier out of the Queenstown Post Office from 1963-1980 at which time he retired. Upon the death of his father in 1968, the family moved to the Rhodes farm, “Bennett’s Outlet”, and Tom operated the farm. One of the many things he enjoyed was curing country hams. He participated in farm and community groups, always willing to lend a helping hand. In 1995 his farm received the Century Farm Award from the Governor of Maryland recognizing the fact that the farm had been in the same family for over 100 years and was still being farmed by the Rhodes family. Tom was a member of the American Legion Post #278, VFW Post #7464, past president of the Queenstown Lions Club, a member and usher at St. Peters Catholic Church, and past member of the Mail Carriers Association. He always enjoyed the deer hunters’ breakfasts and the pigs feet dinners with family and friends. In addition to his wife, Lauretta, he is survived by four children: Peggy Rhodes Yates Stanley and husband, Michael; Ann Rhodes Haymaker and husband, Joe; James T. “Tommy” Rhodes, Jr., and wife, Cindy; and William “Billy” K. Rhodes and wife, Charlene; and six grandchildren, Philip G. Yates and wife, Jennifer; J. Brett Yates and wife, Pam; Heather Rhodes Comegys and husband, Willie; Steven W. Rhodes, Jason K. Rhodes and Michael T. Rhodes and two great grandchildren, Parker Michelle Yates and Payton Elizabeth Yates; one brother, Dr. Harry C. Rhodes and wife, Creighton; one sister, Margaret R. Brantley and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, L. Kennard Rhodes, Jr., and William W. Rhodes. Funeral services will be held at St. Peters Catholic Church, Queenstown, MD, on Monday, September 29, 2008, at 2:00 PM. Pallbearers will be Philip G. Yates, J. Brett Yates, Heather R. Comegys, Steven W. Rhodes, Jason K. Rhodes, and Michael T. Rhodes; honorary pallbearers are Jimmy Walls, Frank Jewell, and Rick Brantley. Friends and family may call at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Centreville on Sunday, September 28, 2008, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Queenstown Fire Company, P.O. Box 118, Queenstown, MD, 21658 or St. Peter’s Catholic Church Cemetery Trust Fund; Attention: Julie, 303 Chesterfield Ave., Centreville, MD, 21617.

J. Thomas Rhodes, Sr.

June 6, 1918 - September 25, 2008