Dr. Kevin Donald Rhodes

We will welcome visitors on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 9:30-10:30am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 5001 AltaMesa Blvd in Fort Worth, Texas. The funeral service will then take place at 11:00am.

Excitedly, Donald and Lily Lavern Rhodes, his earthly parents welcomed him into their family on February 9, 1952, in Richland, Washinton. In early childhood, his family relocated to Idaho where he would grow up with his four brothers and only sister in a home that was full of his mother’s home sewn and handmade treasures. The basement shelves were lined with canned goods grown by his father who had a PH.D. in soil chemistry. While unconditional love and family fun built Kevin’s home, his Dad built their house with his own two hands.

Kevin followed in his parents’ footsteps by embarking on a life of service and care that could not possibly be measured or described by mere words. Such service with his wife and children was unquestionable but his circle of impact and influence reached deep into all his life’s adventures.

In 1970 he graduated from Idaho Falls High School and went on to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala, el Salvador. Three years later he and his wife, Raelene, were married on December 7, 1973. He would spend his days showing great admiration for his wife and went on to adore her for 50 years. That eternal love story continues to be written as does his legacy as a dad to his three children, Cory, Kaci, and Brady.

While juggling school and family, Kevin completed a program of study at the University of Utah and went on to graduate school, receiving his Degree of Podiatric Medicine, from Scholl College of Podiatric medicine in Chicago, IL.

Leaving the beautiful trees of Idaho to the snowcapped mountains of Utah, the urban buzz of Chicago, one might imagine his shock when he matched to pursue a one-year surgical training residency program in Phoenix, AZ. After promptly calling Raelene and informing her that they would never live here, he won the hearts of everyone he met, and his connections would plant them in the Arizona desert for the next 13 years. the brown, dry terrain that seemed so unappealing would become the background to beautiful years of Christmas Eve dinners at T-Bone Steakhouse, camping among cacti and serving as a scout master.

Before suits were his norm you would all too often find him in a patch adorned scout shirt. From drought ridden riverbed scout meetings to a 60-mile one week hike across the Colorado Great Divide, he was a magnet for countless young men from all walks of life in need of not just a scoutmaster but also a genuine father figure. He worked tirelessly to keep hundreds on a good life path by leading them down countless trails.

Kevin was a quick learner, and he quickly learned to love the state of Texas. His family moved to Fort Worth in 1996. He would often joke that he hoped to sneak into the new area and fly under the radar but as we well know, that is not how things developed. He served in multiple callings such as Bishop of the Young Single Adult ward, President of the 8th Branch, Bishop of the 7th/8th ward, Bishop of the 7th Ward, Stake patriarch, Stake President, and then continued to serve as Stake Patriarch. Most of his blessings given, were given in Spanish about which he was also joyous.

Speaking of joy, whether you are someone who shared time with him on a golf course, at his podiatry office, church, scouts, community or home, it is almost a guarantee that he cracked a joke and left you feeling happier than before you bumped into him. At the end of it all, his relationship with His Savior, Jesus Christ, was what mattered most. He lived a life that consisted of daily effort to be more like Him and because of that we learned how to love bigger by Kevin’s example. He wore a lot of hats, but his two favorites were Dad and Pappy. Families are forever and we are forever grateful for the life of Kevin Rhodes.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Lily Laverne Rhodes; Niece, Leda

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Raelene Rhodes. His sons, Cory Kevin Rhodes (Niki) of Temecula, CA; Brady Wayne Rhodes (Erin) of Fort Worth, TX; and his daughter, Kaci Rhodes Cronin (Kevin) of Clinton, MS; 18 Grandchildren, Logan, Rylan, and Ethan Rhodes and Peyton, PJ, Amelia, and Isabella Cronin; Shea, Mylee, Liam, Tierney, Maelin and Kennilee Cronin; Cailyn, Peyton, Carson, Emmie, and Hadley Rhodes.

He is also survived by his siblings, Barry, Bob, Kerry and Kip Rhodes and Karalie Morgan.