Nathaniel "Nat" Holman Rhodes

Nathaniel “Nat” Holman Rhodes, age 85, went home to his Savior on July 3, 2024, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Born on January 12, 1939, in Oneonta, New York, Nat grew up the youngest of three siblings. His father, Dusty Rhodes, managed a J.C. Penny store where Nat would eventually work as a part-time clerk and stocker during high school. His mother, Edith Rhodes, left the teaching profession to become a full-time mother. Nat was salutatorian of the Oneonta High School class of 1956 and went on to graduate from Syracuse University with a degree in electrical engineering. After graduation, he served as a second lieutenant with the U.S. Army Transportation Material Command, in St. Louis, Missouri. Nat met his wife Sherry on a blind date set up by her roommate in 1963, and they were married on May 2, 1964. The young couple moved to Schenectady, New York, where Nat worked for General Electric. In 1965, Nat and Sherry moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they lived for nearly 50 years. Nat’s post-military career included engineering, computer programming and technical writing work for General Electric, Honeywell, The City of Phoenix, Accenture and more. But his favorite job was the two years he spent as a resident manager at Glencroft Retirement Community in Glendale, Arizona. His role there used his gifts of helping others, problem-solving and handyman skills. He loved to take the family camping or fishing, organize wider family reunions and be involved in various church ministries and mission organizations. They took family vacations frequently, driving through much of the U.S. to see national parks and various sights. There was also no detour too long to visit a relative along their journeys. These early experiences instilled a love of travel in Phil, Brad and Julie. In their retirement years, Nat and Sherry continued to travel, including participating in medical mission trips that took them to Kenya, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Nat’s motto was “helping others in Jesus’ name.” He helped with Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief efforts in Arizona and California and took multiple trips with the Lake Powell Trash Trackers. He put his harmonica playing skills to use visiting patients at John C. Lincoln Hospital and cheering them up with a favorite hymn or song. Nat loved spending time with his eight grandchildren - attending ball games, swim meets, music recitals and birthday celebrations. He taught them to play ping-pong and involved them in his various fix-it projects around the house. In 2014, Nat and Sherry moved to the Sacramento area to be close to Phil’s family and became active members of Sunrise Community Church where they completed chaplain training. After the death of his wife in 2021, Nat moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2022 to be close to his daughter, Julie. Nat is preceded in death by his wife Sherry; their son Philip; and sister Deo Boyland. He is survived by son Brad Rhodes and wife Suzanne; daughter Julie Gumm and husband Mark; daughter-in-law Tricia Rhodes; brother Bill Rhodes and wife Jackie; and eight grandchildren — Luke, Noah, Beza, Natalie, Grace, Julia, Rion and Olivia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief.

Tributes

Nathaniel "Nat" Holman Rhodes

January 12, 1939 - July 3, 2024