Herbert Rhodes

Herbert H. "Herb" Rhodes, 88, of Burlington, died July 4, 2017 after a year-long illness. A native of Lexington, NC, Herb was the husband of the late Sarah Virginia Byers Rhodes, who died in 1991, and Reba Blazer Rhodes, who survives. He was the son of the late William Edward Rhodes and the late Ella Mae Tysinger Rhodes. Herb was a veteran of the US Air Force and retired from Burlington Industries Transportation, Courier Division. Herb was a long time member of Calvary Baptist Church. He held many roles, including former choir director, choir member and head of building and grounds. In his younger years Herb played professional baseball. He shared his love of the game for many years after he stopped playing by coaching Little League Baseball in the Burlington area. Herb was an Atlanta Braves fan and enjoyed going to the games with his family. In addition to his wife, Reba, of the home, Herb is survived by his daughter, Dawn Rhodes Hurdle and her husband, Willie; four sons, Chip Rhodes, and his wife, Peggy, Scott Rhodes and his wife, Patricia, Todd Rhodes and his wife, Nina and Chris Rhodes and his wife, Susanne; ten grandchildren, Kelly Bradshaw and her husband, Craig, Thomas (Skip) Rodney, Dustin Hurdle and his wife, Cara, Tadd Rhodes, Grier Briggs, Casey Hurdle and her fiancé, Matt Parker, Delaney Rhodes, Cameron Rhodes, Will Rhodes and Sam Rhodes and four great-grandchildren, Taylor, Victoria, Grant and Garrett Bradshaw. Herb is also survived by Reba's children, Sherry Brooks; Johnny Smith and his wife, Wanda, Debbie Hartley and her husband, Mike; six step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren. In addition to his first wife Virginia, and his parents, Herb was preceded in death by his grandson, T.J. Rhodes. Herb was the second youngest and last survivor of eleven siblings. He was preceded in death by his older siblings, Dermont Rhodes, Homer Rhodes, W.E. "Bill" Rhodes, Jr., Lena Smith, Ethel Weaver, Mable Mickey, Ruby Chappell, Maggie Wilson, Caroline Hunt and his younger sister, Peggy Briggs. The family will receive friends Saturday, July 8, from 12:30 until 1:45 pm at Rich and Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington. A celebration of Herb's life will be held at 2:00 pm in the Rich and Thompson Chapel. Officiating will be the Rev. Donald Swinney and the Rev. Boyd Pickard. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum at Alamance Memorial Park. The family would like to express their gratitude to the office and staff of Dr. Donald Fisher and Hospice of Alamance-Caswell for their patience and compassion in the care of Herb during his illness. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 230 Williams Street, Burlington, NC 27215 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.