A resident of Ava for the past 45 years James Noal “Jim” Rhodes, son of George Washington Rhodes and Susie Katherine Owens Rhodes, was born on April 29, 1925, in Mtn. Grove, and departed this life with his loving family surrounding him on April 8, 2007, in Springfield, at the age of 81.
Jim was a resident of Ava for the past 45 years, moving from Mtn. Grove. He was a World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Navy.
He was retired and had worked for Rawlings Sporting Goods for 26 years as a sewing machine mechanic. On Aug. 24, 1946 Jim and Myrtle Lorene Cawthron were united in marriage in Mtn. Grove and to this union three children were born. He attended the Ava General Baptist Church. Jim’s hobbies were fishing, and he enjoyed working on sewing machines and woodworking. He loved being with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Myrtle Lorene in 1981; and 14 brothers and sisters, and a son-in-law, Alvin Spring.
He is survived by his children, Patricia Spring, and Shirley Stinson and husband, Michael, all of Springfield, and a son, Gary Rhodes and wife, Kim, Ava; three grandchildren, Penny, Terry and Kathleen; one sister, Anna Parson, state of Idaho; a special friend, Virginia Burnett, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Interment will follow in the Fannon Cemetery.
Visitation was held Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. The family requests memorials to Oxford Cox Hospice. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome. com.
