Richard M. Dick Rhoades

Richard M. Rhoades Whitman Richard M. Dick Rhoades, 80, a longtime resident of Whitman, died Saturday, Nov. 17, in Brockton Hospital, after many years of heart complications. Dick was the husband of Norma (Powers) Rhoades of Whitman, whom she was the daughter of William B. Powers, a longtime realtor, construction/developer of Whitman. Born in Bellows Falls, Vt., in 1927, he was schooled and educated in Alstead, N.H., attended University of New Hampshire, graduated from the School of Accounting and Finance in Manchester, N.H. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944, discharged in 1945, and moved to Cambridge in 1948. He was chief accountant for Cambridge Electric Light & Steam Corporation from 1948-1959. In 1959, went with the State Convention as business administrator for the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts, 21 years, and for those number of years, was instrumental in the purchasing and development of Grotonwood Camp & Conference Center, in Groton and the merger of T.A.B.C.O.M. /City Society, Oceanwood Conference Center in Maine, also the developing of Evanswood in Kingston. Mr. Rhoades was a two time president of the Boston Social Union, treasurer of Lords Day League, comptroller/treasurer of State Convention, Boston, active in State wide work of his boards and committees, from the state level to local. He had been a Mason of the Puritan Lodge since 1955, a lifetime active member of the First Baptist Church of Whitman, member of Lords Day league for Civic Welfare, the Republican National Task Force, Congressional and Senatorial of Washington, D. C. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two daughters, Dianne and Donna Rhoades, both of Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard. Friends are kindly invited to his funeral services on Friday, Dec. 7, at 12 p.m. in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Inc., Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 at the rotary circle), Whitman. Interment will follow in the Mount Zion Cemetery, Whitman. Visiting hours will be held two hours prior to service, Friday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.blanchardfc.com.