Obituary of Wesley Wayne Rhoads

Wesley Wayne Rhoads July 5, 1927---June 11, 2007 Wesley Wayne Rhoads 79, (formally of Roseburg OR) passed away June 11, 2007 in Olympia WA. Wes has suffered many years of sever pain due to medical problems. He is now free of pain and with God. Wes was born in Klamath Falls Oregon to Albert Milton and Nancy Ellen (Burleson) Rhoads. He enlisted in the Navy at 17 and served his time stationed in Hawaii at the end of World War II performing shore patrol duties. He was honorably discharged in 1946. July 21, 1951 Wes and Patricia Darlene Dean were married in Eureka California. Wes and Pat made their home in both Eureka and Klamath Falls until settling in Roseburg in 1954. He and Pat had 3 daughters that were his life. Wes started Rhoads Cleaning Service that he owned and operated for 39 years. In 1993 his health forced him to sell the business. He missed and never forgot his long time customers. December of 2003 Wes and Pat moved to Olympia Washington to be close to family. Wes enjoyed the outdoors and loved hunting and fishing. He was truly at peace and relaxed while hunting the (Pole Patch) in Eastern Oregon outside of Chiloquin. Family and friends looked forward to their yearly hunting trips with Wes. Water skiing was almost a daily activity during the summer time. Camping trips included his family members and all of their friends. Wes held season tickets to the Roseburg American Legion baseball and was a sponsor for many years. In later years he enjoyed trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas with his wife, 2 daughters and sons-in-law. He loved to nurture and watch his garden grow. Soon family, friends, and even occasional acquaintances became recipients of a variety of vegetables (usually including several zucchinis). ). His home was always open for his daughter’s friends throughout their teenage years and beyond. Once you were his friend you remained his friend. Wes is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Sharon and her husband Randy Renfrow of Olympia Washington; daughter Linda Kalamar of Sun Lakes Arizona; Grandchildren, Deanna (Powell) Doerk and husband Steve of Vancouver Washington, Patti (Renfrow) Swihart and husband Ryan of Lacey Washington, Randy Renfrow Jr. of Olympia Washington; great grandchildren, Rhaeley Shaffer, Jylian Doerk, Zackery Doerk, Timothy Payment-Swihart, Austin Swihart, Madison Swihart, Samantha Renfrow, Randy Renfrow III. One brother, Doran Rhoads and his wife Kay of Vancouver Washington; his nephews, Jim, Rich and Jerry Eastburn, Tom, Dean and Bill Rhoads, Monty Fiorentino, Chuck Rhoads; and his nieces Brenda Dickinson and Pat McCord. His special friends, Chet Bewley, Bobby Kalamar, and Jeff Somerville also survive Wes. Wes was preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers, Merle, Lyle, Kenneth, and Lowell Rhoads; his 2 sisters Marjorie Brown and Jewell Eastburn; Father-in Law, Cyril Dean; and daughter Jeanine (Rhoads) Powell. At his request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. We are going keep him with us in our hearts every day and remember the joy and laughter he brought to so many. Please send your emails with a little story or memory about Wes. It will be a lasting tribute to a wonderful man and would mean so much to his family. Donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of his great-granddaughter, Madison Swihart: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Washington Chapter 520 Pike Street Ste 1075 Seattle WA 98101 or washington@cff.org