William Boyd Rhodes

William Boyd (Billy) Rhodes, Jr., 92, died April 25, 2011, at Franke at Seaside in Mount Pleasant.  He was born on October 12, 1918, to the late William B. Rhodes and Leonarda Friend Rhodes of Charleston during the height of the Spanish Flu Pandemic.  He was preceded in death by his parents and only brother, John LeRoy Rhodes of Summerville.

The funeral service will be held at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, West Ashley Chapel, Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 2 pm with the Rev. Sherry  Owensby-Sikes of Franke at Seaside and the Rev. James Blalock of Redeemer Lutheran Church officiating.  Burial will be at Live Oak Memorial Gardens on Ashley River Road.  The family will receive friends at Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel Thursday from 12 noon until the time of service.  Pallbearers will be nephews Henry W. Theiling, Jr., Dale Theiling, Brent Theiling, Ronald D. Theiling, Harry C. Lindenberg, III, and niece, Yvonne Sienkiewicz.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 68 years, Lucille Lindenberg Rhodes.  When asked how many children he had, Mr. Rhodes always answered with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, "Eight.  Four were homegrown, and they went out and got four more."  They are Nan and Stacy Hull of Charleston; Bill and Myriam Rhodes of Knoxville, TN; Rachel Rhodes-Dyar and Ken Dyar of Hephzibah, GA; and Jeff and Margaret Rhodes of Marietta, GA.  He also is survived by grandchildren Lowell Hull of Charleston, Allison and David Nulph of Arlington, VA; Amanda and Brett Lewis of Knoxville; and Matthew Rhodes of Myrtle Beach, SC.  Also, a beloved sister-in-law,Virginia Lindenberg Theiling; several cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Rhodes served the country he loved in the Coast Guard Auxiliary before being drafted into the United States Navy during World War II.  From 1944-1946 he was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood.  He also served during the Korean War from 1950-1951 at the communications station in Adak, Alaska.  He worked for 41 years at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, working his way up from apprentice to head of the electronics shop.  An avid bowler, he bowled for Greater Charleston Bowling Association for more than 50 years, stopping only earlier this year.  Mr. Rhodes was the Cub Master of Pack 14 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church before becoming the Scoutmaster of Troop 8, sponsored by the Stono Park Neighborhood Association.  He was a dyed-in-the-wool Clemson Tigers fan.  One of his most cherished accomplishments was coaching the Martens-Davis Realtors' basketball team for three years and winning the City League Championship in the late 1940s.  This was an amazing feat considering everything he knew about coaching basketball came out of a book by Adolph Rupp.  

Mr. Rhodes, a true raconteur, would regale anyone who would listen with his tales.  His "Little Billy" stories are the stuff of legend of a much simpler time -- when hanging from the train trestle over the Ashley River while the train was going overhead, or building a boat and letting eight little boys put it in the river to go fishing was just an everyday adventure.  He was quick with a laugh, quick with a joke, and a man who loved his family.  He will be greatly missed.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lutheran Hospice of South Carolina at Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29484.