Mr. William N. Rhodes, age 87, of 602 Fourth Street, Tyrone died Friday, March 9, 2007 at 3:56 a.m. at the Tyrone Hospital.
He was born December 31, 1919 in Tyrone, the son of Fred and Elizabeth Mae Chandler Rhodes. He was first married to Dorothy M. (Michaels) McNeal who preceded him in death. On October 18, 1986 at the Church of the Good Shepherd he was married by Reverend Norman E. Huff to Ardis Cassady Snyder who survives. Also surviving are stepchildren Richard (Rebecca) Snyder, Thomas (Cheryl) Snyder and Cynthia Snyder (Charles Banas), seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren and two nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother Robert M. and a sister Elsie M. West.
He was a graduate of Tyrone High School class of 1938 and was employed at Westvaco as Manager of the Scheduling and Shipping Department. He retired in 1982 after 44 years service. He served with the 8th Air Force with the 452nd Bomb Group. He was stationed in England and served as a flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress attaining the rank of T/Sgt. He was shot down over Nuremberg and was a prisoner of war for which, in 2005, he received a long awaited recognition. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, served as chairman of the Board of Trustees, was a member of the Administrative Council, and was a “Church Engineer”. He was a member of the former Tyrone Lions Club, Howard Gardner Post No. 281 American Legion, Anderson-Denny Post No. 4559 VFW, and a life member of BPOE No. 212, AARP and the 452nd Bomb Group Association. He particularly enjoyed Tyrone football, crossword puzzles, the outdoors, and his great-grandchildren.
Funeral service for Mr. Rhodes will be held Monday, March 12, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home Inc. with Reverend Mark Liller officiating.
There will be a flag presentation following the service. Interment will be made in Bald Eagle Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Epworth Manor Care Assurance Fund, 951 Washington Avenue, Tyrone, PA 16686.
