OBITUARY:
James Frederick Rhode Sr., 80, of Kennewick, died at Kennewick General Hospital on Saturday, March 7, of heart failure.
He was born February 20, 1929, in Long Beach, California. Jim, his mother, brother and sister moved to Yakima, WA, in 1931. He attended Yakima schools and graduated from Yakima High School in 1948.
Jim served in the Navy as a parachute packer. He served from 1949 with an honorable discharge in 1952.
Jim received his B.A. in Recreation and Parks from San Jose State College. Jim moved to Kennewick in 1957 and worked as Parks and Reaction Director until his retirement in 1991.
Jim was involved in the ASA Softball for over 47 years and served as District Commissioner and then in 1981 Jim was appointed Washington State ASA Commissioner until retiring in 2006 and then served as Commissioner emeritus until his death. Jim and his family were members of Ascension Lutheran Church and attended First Lutheran Church.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary Lydia Rhode, and sister Barbara Schutte. He is survived by his wife of 43 years Hazel; sons, Jay Rhode (Kennewick); John Rhode (Jill) Mesa, AZ; and his lovely daughter Jackie Leggett (Ben) Vancouver, WA; his grandchildren, Baylee Leggett, Daniel Rhode and Kendra Leggett.
Jim was the most wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Mueller's Chapel of the Falls, located on 314 W. 1st Ave. in Kennewick with a Reception to follow at 3:00 p.m.
(Source: Tri-City Herald Date: Friday, March 13, 2009.)