Max Rhodes

ASHEVILLE - Max Edward Rhodes, 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 18, 2012 following a brief period of declining health. Max was born July 5, 1924 and was the eldest child of the late Kitty Miller Rhodes and Tolley Roscoe Rhodes. Max was also preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Clara Mae Tyson Rhodes, who died in 2010; sisters: Juanita Garrison, and Mattie Ella DeBruhl. Surviving Mr. Rhodes is one sister, Betty Jackson; daughter, Betty Kindley and husband John; son, Tom Rhodes and wife Susan; granddaughters: Stephanie Hyatt and husband Michael, and Carrie Hollifield and husband Jason. Mr. Rhodes also had 3 great grandchildren which he loved: Carson, Logan, and Elle. Mr. Rhodes was a WWII Air Force Veteran and was a locomotive engineer for the Norfolk Southern Railway where he enjoyed 40 years and 2 months of injury-free service. He was an avid fisherman and wood craftsman. He was also a deacon, usher, and lifelong member of Victory Baptist Church. He was very active on the properties committee and numerous building and construction projects. One of the activities he loved most was greeting guests at the door of the church on Sunday mornings. Services for Mr. Rhodes will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday at Victory Baptist Church, with Pastors Mark Chase and Larry Sprinkle officiating. Burial will follow in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 1-2:00 PM Wednesday at the church. The family would like to acknowledge the exceptional love and care Mr. Rhodes received from the staff of the fifth floor Heart Tower at Mission Hospital, the staff of Four Seasons Hospice, as well as the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center, Doctors C. Chay, W. Maddox, E. Gardener, and J. Rosenburg, and his family in Christ from Victory Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Meals On Wheels Ministry of Victory Baptist Church.