Walter "Dusty" Edgar Rhodes Jr.

Walter E. “Dusty” Rhodes, Jr., of Chester, MD, died Saturday, September 12, 2015, at UMSMC at Easton. He was 91. Born in Baltimore, MD on April 17, 1924, he was the son of Walter Edgar Rhodes, Sr., and Effie Anderson Rhodes. He grew up in Baltimore where he graduated from Baltimore Poly Tech High School, Class of 1942. Mr. Rhodes enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as an Aviation Cadet and later on in the Air Transport Command. He served as a Flight Traffic Clerk (in charge of cabin). Mr. Rhodes crossed the Atlantic Ocean 70 times (35 round trips) to supply mail, spare parts, transport wounded, and special dignitaries. When the war ended, he returned to go to college at University of Maryland and in February 1951, he graduated with a B.S. and started working for Westinghouse. Mr. Rhodes worked until 1989 when he retired after 38 years as a Printed Circuit Designer. On June 5, 1954, he married Jane E. Brohawn. She predeceased him in November 1994. On April 5, 1997, he married Virginia Ruth Mitter Cooper. Mr. Rhodes was very active in the Kent Island United Methodist Church, the Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfast, Stephen’s Ministry for 15 years, and many other offices. He was an active member of Americorp, and Volunteer Maryland in connection with Queen Anne’s County Schools system. Mr. Rhodes helped in the media center at Stevensville Middle School and built shelves in many of the schools in Queen Anne’s County. He was a past member of Centreville Masonic Lodge #180 AF & AM, a board member of Hospice of Queen Anne’s, a board member of American Cancer Society, and active in the Kent Island Cancer Support Group “Carry On.” In addition to his wife, Mr. Rhodes is survived by a son, Walter E. Rhodes, III, and his wife, Elizabeth, of Bend, OR; a daughter, Nanlee Taylor and her husband, Mike, of Chester, MD; a stepson, Douglas Egolf of Queenstown, MD; three stepdaughters, Deborah Marriner of Woodbridge, VA, Donna Parham of Keymar, MD, and Deanna Smith of Easton, MD; one granddaughter, Holland Jane Rhodes of Bend, OR; five step grandchildren and eight step great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by a sister, Nancy Lee Rhodes Roberts. A memorial service will be held at Kent Island United Methodist Church in Chester, MD, on Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. Contributions may be made to Kent Island United Methodist Church, 2739 Cox Neck Road, Chester, MD 21619.

Walter "Dusty" Edgar Rhodes Jr.

April 17, 1924 - September 12, 2015