Obituary: Rev. John Lewis Rhoads Sr.

Rev. John Lewis Rhoads Sr., age 86, of Kingston, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at his home.

He was born Dec. 23, 1927, in St. Albans, W.V., the son of George Lucien Rhoads and Margaret Volmer Rhoads.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Coast Guard.

Rev. Rhoads was a minister with the Holston United Methodist Conference for 40 years, serving many churches during his service to the church. He enjoyed traveling and writing poetry.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Bettie Rhoads in 1994; sons, John L. Rhoads Jr. and Steven Rhoads; daughter, Diane Rhoads; brothers, George L. Rhoads Jr. and James W. Rhoads and Maylon Rhoads; and sisters and their spouses, Martha M (Okey) Reed, Mary E. (Fred) Irwin and Ruth J. (Walter) Mollohan.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Helen M. Rhoads; son, Thomas E. Rhoads and wife Debbie of Powell; stepsons, Dean Perry and wife Linda, Randy Perry and Micky Perry, all of Knoxville; daughter, Patricia Rhoads of Blountville; sisters-in-law, Mae Rhoads of Radford, Va., Beatrice Rhoads of Orange Park, Fla., and Joann Rhoads of Charleston, W.V.; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 12–2 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. with Rev. Kenny Faught officiating. The burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Danny Rhoads, Joe Trojanowski, Robin Holt, Micky Perry, Dean Perry, and Randy Perry.

The family asks that any memorials be given in his memory to a charity of the donor’s choice. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.