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Lester D. Rhodes

Lester D. "Lefty" Rhodes, age 83, of Rimersburg, PA, passed away on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

He was born in East Brady, PA on February 6, 1929, the son of Lester Darrell and Margaret Anna (Truitt) Rhodes.

Lefty was a lifetime resident of the Rimersburg area and after graduating from Union High School worked at General Electric in Erie. He honorably served his country from 1951-1953 during the Korean War as an engineer in a construction battalion for the US Army. After returning from his military duty, Lefty worked at Pullman Standard for 20 years and then served as the manager for Rimersburg Borough for 26 years.

Lefty was very involved in the community and held memberships with the Sligo Lions Club and Junior Order of Mechanics in Kittanning. He coached a number of teen baseball leagues in Rimersburg throughout his life including Connie Mack and American Legion and was a member of the former Licking Cherry Run Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and held various board offices. Lefty recently attended Sligo Church of the Nazarene and was grounded in his faith in God; reading the Bible twice completely through and was working on his third attempt.

Favorite activities of Lefty's included watching television and reading. An avid sports fan, he loved the sport of baseball and regularly cheered on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lefty enjoyed eating out with family and friends and for years kept in touch with his army buddies. He was a lifelong learner and continued to take classes into his 80s. Those who knew him will always remember his quick wit, quiet personality, and mild and calm disposition. Lefty was a caring husband and held a deep love for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; he will be greatly missed.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 26 years, Joy (Yates) Rhodes, who he married June 19, 1985; stepson, Larry "Bart" Simpson and wife, Lynn, of Portland, MI; stepdaughter, Lisa Fiscus and husband, Ben, of Callensburg; grandchildren, Jessica Sipes and husband, Richard, Brittany Best and husband, Toby, Jalon Simpson and Noah Simpson; great-grandchildren Olivia Best, Isaac Best and Deacon Sipes; brother, Bob Rhodes, of Monaca; sister, Connie Rankin, of Rimersburg; and sister-in-law, Pat Rhodes, of Denver, CO.

Lefty was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ed Rhodes.

Family and friends will be received from 10 AM until the time of the memorial service at 11 AM on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the Sligo Church of the Nazarene, 311 Madison St., Sligo, PA with the Reverend Jeff Kramer officiating. Full military honors will immediately follow presented by the Rimersburg American Legion Post 454 and the VFW Post 7132.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lefty's honor to the Sligo Church of the Nazarene, 311 Madison St., Sligo, PA 16255, the Rimersburg VFW Wounded Soldiers Fund, 7132 Route 68, Rimersburg, PA 16248 or the Veteran's Memorial Park, care of James McCollough, 231 Monterrey Road, Rimersburg, PA 16248.

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