1927
Mr.
2015
Mr. Roland Rhodes
June 8, 1927 — July 24, 2015
Roland Lee Rhodes was born June 8,1927. He passed away July 24, 2015 with his wife at his side.His childhood home was in Kansas City where he lived with his two brothers and two sisters. As a young man he worked as a paperboyand at the Kansas City Stockyard. He attended Central Jr. & Sr. High School Kansas City, MO. Roland went to junior college and then at the age of 17 was inducted into the US Navy during WW II. When discharged he went to KU on a GI Billand received an A.B. Chemistry in 1949.
Roland married his high school sweetheart Winona Carpenter on April 4, 1947. They celebrated their 68th anniversary in April with a small gathering of family. They had four children Christine, David, Alan and Deborah. Theylived in Lawrence, Overland Park and Gardner Kansas.
Roland was active in the Boy Scouts as an adult leader for 12 years and he coached baseball and softball with hisolder children. Roland was a De Molay and Mason and served as a council member for the City of Overland Park. He enjoyed traveling, reading, learning, and giving back to his community.
Roland worked as a Chemist at Stokley-Van Camp, FMC Chemical Division and Cook Chemical. During his employment at Cook Chemical he attended the National Pest Control Association convention in 1956 and the Purdue Pest Control conference in 1957. Roland became aware of the need for and established a distribution company in the Midwest. In February 1962, Rhodes Chemical Company was started in the home of Roland and Winona. In 1966 the Company was moved into a building in Kansas City with two employees.The business moved to its current location in Kansas City, KS in 1969. Roland was a charter member, 1969, United Producers, Formulators and Distributors Association. He served on the boards of several State Pest Control Associations and attended the Purdue Conference for over 35 years. Roland sponsored CEO Round-tables at the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College.He served on the Kansas Department of Agriculture Board for over 17 years. Roland attended many NPMA Legislative Days and testified to the Senate committee on legislation affecting the industry. He was a member of the Entomological Society of America and Pi Chi Omega.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Roland and Winona started a Morgan Horse breeding farm. They raised, trained and showed Morgans in English, Western and Driving Classes at the American Royal in Kansas City for more than 10 years. Several of their horses were able to advance to National shows and placed as National Champions.
Roland was preceded in death by his parents Samuel Rhodes and Eva Morris Rhodes, sister, Evelyn Rhodes, brother Gene Rhodes, brother-in-law Merle Thompson and nephew Michael Thompson.
Survivors are wife Winona Rhodes, Children; Chris (Ray) Bush, David (Suzy) Rhodes, Alan (Cathie) Rhodes, and Debbie (Mike) Ball. Grandchildren Greg (Anita) Bush, Kelsey (Dustin) Herr, Carie (Tracy) Bush-Jonas, Brie (Nathan) Hevesy, Devin (Allyson) Rhodes, Rebecca (Jonathan) Carnal, Christopher Rhodes, Shawn Ball, Cassie Rhodes, and Brittany Ball.Great grandchildren Macy and Ellie Bush, Kaden, Hunter and Sophia Herr, Logan and Anya Jonas, and Taryn Hevesy. Brother Gerry (Gen)Rhodes, sister Rosemary Thompson, sister in law Janet Rhodes and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS. Visitation 10:00, Funeral 11:00, Interment 12:00.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to:
Memorials payable to: Purdue Foundation note: Roland & Winona Rhodes Family Scholarship
Purdue University
College of Agriculture Department Office
715 W. State St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Memorials payable to: Youth Civic Leadership Institute fund (YCLI)
Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics
2350 Peterfish Dr.
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045
Roland married his high school sweetheart Winona Carpenter on April 4, 1947. They celebrated their 68th anniversary in April with a small gathering of family. They had four children Christine, David, Alan and Deborah. Theylived in Lawrence, Overland Park and Gardner Kansas.
Roland was active in the Boy Scouts as an adult leader for 12 years and he coached baseball and softball with hisolder children. Roland was a De Molay and Mason and served as a council member for the City of Overland Park. He enjoyed traveling, reading, learning, and giving back to his community.
Roland worked as a Chemist at Stokley-Van Camp, FMC Chemical Division and Cook Chemical. During his employment at Cook Chemical he attended the National Pest Control Association convention in 1956 and the Purdue Pest Control conference in 1957. Roland became aware of the need for and established a distribution company in the Midwest. In February 1962, Rhodes Chemical Company was started in the home of Roland and Winona. In 1966 the Company was moved into a building in Kansas City with two employees.The business moved to its current location in Kansas City, KS in 1969. Roland was a charter member, 1969, United Producers, Formulators and Distributors Association. He served on the boards of several State Pest Control Associations and attended the Purdue Conference for over 35 years. Roland sponsored CEO Round-tables at the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College.He served on the Kansas Department of Agriculture Board for over 17 years. Roland attended many NPMA Legislative Days and testified to the Senate committee on legislation affecting the industry. He was a member of the Entomological Society of America and Pi Chi Omega.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Roland and Winona started a Morgan Horse breeding farm. They raised, trained and showed Morgans in English, Western and Driving Classes at the American Royal in Kansas City for more than 10 years. Several of their horses were able to advance to National shows and placed as National Champions.
Roland was preceded in death by his parents Samuel Rhodes and Eva Morris Rhodes, sister, Evelyn Rhodes, brother Gene Rhodes, brother-in-law Merle Thompson and nephew Michael Thompson.
Survivors are wife Winona Rhodes, Children; Chris (Ray) Bush, David (Suzy) Rhodes, Alan (Cathie) Rhodes, and Debbie (Mike) Ball. Grandchildren Greg (Anita) Bush, Kelsey (Dustin) Herr, Carie (Tracy) Bush-Jonas, Brie (Nathan) Hevesy, Devin (Allyson) Rhodes, Rebecca (Jonathan) Carnal, Christopher Rhodes, Shawn Ball, Cassie Rhodes, and Brittany Ball.Great grandchildren Macy and Ellie Bush, Kaden, Hunter and Sophia Herr, Logan and Anya Jonas, and Taryn Hevesy. Brother Gerry (Gen)Rhodes, sister Rosemary Thompson, sister in law Janet Rhodes and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS. Visitation 10:00, Funeral 11:00, Interment 12:00.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to:
Memorials payable to: Purdue Foundation note: Roland & Winona Rhodes Family Scholarship
Purdue University
College of Agriculture Department Office
715 W. State St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Memorials payable to: Youth Civic Leadership Institute fund (YCLI)
Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics
2350 Peterfish Dr.
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045
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