Dorothy C. Tidwell Rhoades

Dorothy C. Tidwell Rhoades, age 87, of Temple died Saturday, March 22, 2008 in a Temple nursing home. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, March 26, at Resthaven Memorial Park in Jacksonville. Visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 PM Tuesday at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Mrs. Rhoades was born February 27, 1921 near Alto to Clyde Carter and Ila Mae (Stancil) Tidwell. She graduated from Rusk High School and Scott & White School of Nursing in Temple. She received her bachelors of science degree from the University of Texas and her masters degree in nursing from the University of Washington. In August, 1942 she was appointed as Ensign, Nurse Corps, U. S. Navy (Reserves) and served at Naval Hospital in San Diego, California and Aiea Hts. in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was released to inactive duty in 1945 and recalled to active duty in 1951 for the Korean War and was appointed to the regular Navy in 1957 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. She was commissioned to the rank of Commander in 1964 and remained on active duty until her retirement in 1968. On her second tour of duty at Naval Hospital in San Diego she met and married Frank Rhoades, longtime columnist for the San Diego Union newspaper. They bought a home there and she eventually retired and lived there until after his death in 1983. In 1986, she moved to Tyler to be near her mother and other family members in Jacksonville and Temple. She was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Tyler. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Clyde Tidwell, Jr., Douglas Tidwell and a sister, Marie Tidwell Hesterley. Survivors include a sister, Betty Tidwell Traylor of Temple and a brother, Tracy Tidwell of Jacksonville and several nieces and nephews.