Earle Donald "Dusty" Rhoades

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at First Baptist Church with Doctor Howard Batson officiating.

Entombment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery East Mausoleum under the direction of Memorial Park Funeral Directors.

Mr. Earle Donald "Dusty" Rhoades was a quiet, gentle soul who always put the needs of others before himself. He always had a joyful smile on his face that not only embodied his cheerful spirit, but was also contagious to those around him. Earle went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the age of 95.

Born September 8, 1920 in Culbertson, Nebraska, Earle was the oldest of eight children who grew up on the family farm. Working on the farm while growing up is where Earle learned his amazing family values and work ethic.

At the ripe age of 21 Earle moved to Kansas City and met his future bride, Catherine, while working for the Corps of Engineers. After moving to Kansas City, Earle decided to serve his country and joined the US Army Air Force to fight in WWII. Earle served as a pilot flying B-17 airplanes doing weather reconnaissance in England. Upon fulfillment of serving his country, Earle completed his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Nebraska. He was employed as a mechanical engineer by Mason Hanger, Silas Mason Co. Inc. and worked for them for 40 years, retiring in 1991 from Pantex.

Earle professed faith in Christ because of the love and inspiration of his grandmother and was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church. He dearly loved his family and thoroughly enjoyed family dinners and game nights playing dominoes, Rack-O and Skip-Bo. When Earle wasn't defeating his family in Rack-O, he was always making them laugh with his jokes and contagious joy. After all, one could not simply hear Earle laugh without joining in on the fun.

Earle was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 64 years, Catherine Melinda Rhoades; 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

Earle is survived by his daughter, Ruth Ann Taylor and husband Jerry Don of Amarillo; 3 beloved grandchildren, Zachary Sean Taylor of Ft. Worth, Cassandra Nichole Taylor of Amarillo and Jessica D'Ann Mustoe and husband Phillip of Amarillo; and 2 sisters, Maxine Talley and Barbara Almond of Colorado.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.