Michael Wayne Rhodes

Biography: Michael Wayne Rhodes, age 71 of Little Rock, passed away unexpectedly at his home on August 12th, 2024. Mike was born August 18th, 1952, in DeQueen, Arkansas, to Donald Eugene Rhodes, Sr., and Lavon Jane Newberry Rhodes. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in 1971. He was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, serving as Military Police from 1972 until 1974. He initially served in Seoul, South Korea, and later Pennsylvania. After the Army he returned to Little Rock, entered apprenticeship, and worked for Pfeifer Plumbing & Heating.
Mike later enjoyed a long and successful career at Comfort Systems USA (formerly River City Mechanical) and held several positions to include Lead HVAC technician and HVAC Service Operations Manager. He made many friends in the workplace during his career. He retired in 2018 and lived in the Hillcrest neighborhood. He moved there in 2015 to be close to the local elementary and middle schools so his granddaughters could walk to his house after school. Mike loved taking long drives to DeQueen where he told stories and reminisced about his grandparents and spending time with them. He also loved to drive around Little Rock pointing out the many locations where he worked HVAC jobs and which specific units he helped install. He loved putting on slide shows, for anyone who was willing to watch, of pictures he took during his time in Seoul. He loved telling stories of growing up near Camp Robinson and all the adventures he had with his siblings and neighborhood friends. He loved to travel, especially by trains, and was proud of his National Park Lifetime Senior Pass. He loved being a Democrat and talking politics. He was proud of his granddaughters and loved them very much.
Mike was preceded in death by his beloved grandparents Ivy Smith Rhodes and Dovie Lemley Rhodes, Dean Everett Newberry, Sr., and Ruth Herring Newberry, his parents, and his older brother Donald Eugene Rhodes, Jr.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Stacy and Rush Simpson of Little Rock and their daughters Leah and Zoë; daughter Melissa White of Sherwood and her daughters Emily and Olivia; younger sisters Diana Barr of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Janice Rhodes of Benton, Shirley Holt and her husband Will of Rogers; 4 nieces and their husbands, and 9 great nieces and nephews. He was also survived by his sweet cat Bob.
His ashes will be interred at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, near his father and older brother Donnie.
Please consider a memorial tribute to Little Rock's Friends of the Animal Village. Mike's cat Bob and his many grand-cats and grand-dogs were all former rescues and fosters from the Animal Village. https://www.friendsoftheanimalvillage.org/in-honor-in-memory-of-donation Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com