Richard Eugene Rhoads

Born at home on March 26, 1939 near Richfield, he is a son of the late Charles and Ferne (Hendricks) Rhoads.

On July 3, 1968, he married his surviving wife, Sandra (Charles) Rhoads, with whom he shared over 56 years of marriage before his passing.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Lona Henry and husband Timothy, and Lisa Ritzman and husband Jeffery, all of McAlisterville; one brother, Stephen Rhoads and wife Jennifer and one sister, Ann Graybill and husband Gary; four grandchildren, Jolene Teats and husband Michael, Luke Goss and wife Tiara, Amber Heimbach and husband Kyle, and Trent Fisher and wife Rachael; six great-grandchildren, Natalie Fisher, Kyley Goss, and Easton, Isabella, Kole, and Riley Heimbach; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Sue Rhoads; two brothers, R. Edwin Rhoads and Clair Rhoads; and one grandson Jeremiah Goss.

Richard was a member of First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes, Arizona and a devoted Christian.

As a teenager, he worked for Heister Valley apple orchard picking apples. After graduating from high school, he worked briefly for Renninger's Sawmill in Licking Creek, PA, loading railroad ties onto trucks before he went to work as a shipping clerk at Harrisburg Wearing Apparel, where his uncle taught him to be a garment cutter. Richard worked as a cutter in the garment industry for Eileen Hope, Liverpool, PA, a factory in NYC, 21 years for Juniata Garment, Mifflin, PA, and R&J industries, York, PA. In 1986, Richard and his wife Sandra opened their own garment factory, Silki Sportswear in Dover, PA (until 1990) and in 1988 partnered with, and subsequently bought, Wan-Pat of Newport PA, changing the name to Silki Sportswear II (until 1997). Richard then returned to Juniata Garment, Mifflin, until moving to Arizona in 2005, where he worked for Formal Fashions 6 years, maintaining sewing machines. In 2015, he went to work as custodian for First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes until his death.

Richard had a love for cars all his life, especially Corvettes, having owned several over his lifetime. He was an avid race fan, and sponsored Ken Dixon's #17 limited late-model car and Roger Crane's #8 sprint car through Silki Sportswear. He also enjoyed finding old bicycles at yard sales, which he would fix up and resell.

A Celebration of Life service is planned for Sunday, December 15, at 4:00 pm, at East Salem Community Church - 7398 PA-235, Mifflintown, PA 17059.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to East Salem Cemetery Association, C/O Matt Pannebaker, 850 Johnstown Road, Mifflintown, PA 17059.