Bobby Alan Rhodes

Bobby Alan Rhodes was born in Higgins, Texas on September 1st, 1948. He departed this life early Friday morning, August 23, 2024 at his rural home near Oakwood, Oklahoma. The second of eight children born to Guy Allison Rhodes and Lola Susan (Taylor) Rhodes. The family lived in Shattuck, Oklahoma at that time but since it cost $125 to be born in Shattuck, his mom and dad decided to go to Higgins, Texas where it cost $45. This was the beginning of a very conservative and best deal Bob. The family moved to Pampa, Amarillo, Utah and then to Oakwood in 1963 where Bob graduated high school in 1968. He proudly served in the US Army, active duty 2 years, 3 years reserve and 1 year Kingfisher National Guard. He completed his basic training at Fort Polk, LA., AIT training as a Huey helicopter crew chief, door gunner and mechanic, acquiring the rank of E5 Buck Sergeant at Fort Eustis, VA and completed 18 months at Fort Benning, GA.
On March 2, 1973, he married Ruth Rutz. They were blessed with two sons, Ryan and Nathan and later with a beautiful granddaughter, Klaycie and great grandson, Heston. Bob ran a mechanic shop in Oakwood for several years, owned Bob's Bar-B-Q for several years during the 1980's oil boom. He served as Mayor of Oakwood for a few years and Oakwood Fire Chief for 27 years.
In his retirement years, he had a passion for recycling metals and collecting old antique farm machinery. He collected many things all his life including metal toys, oil memorabilia, old wrenches and signs. If it was old, it was cool to him and he wanted to keep it. Bones, Bob and Ryan built the fence out in front of his property out of old wrenches and other old interesting items. He enjoyed country and gospel music. He accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior and faith, family and country was very important to him.
Preceding him in death were his mother and father; brother, Melvin; sisters, Dorothy Loss and Maggie Rhodes; nephews, Clay Smith and Garret Nevels; niece Susan Proffitt. Bob is survived by his wife Ruth of 51 years; his boys, Ryan and Nathan; granddaughter, Klaycie (husband, Hayden) and great grandson Heston; brothers, Ray and Marty; sisters, Betty Jo, Debbie (husband, Alan) Smith and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Evergreen Cemetery north of Oakwood with Pastor Lynn Parkhurst officiating. Memorial donations can be made to the Oakwood Community Center or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through Pierce Funeral Home, P.O. Box 36, Canton, OK, 73724. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.piercefuneralhomes.com.