J. Frank Rhodes, Jr.

J. Frank Rhodes, Jr., 91, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, December 14, 2012. He was born April 9, 1921 in Abilene, KS, the son of J. Frank and Beatrice Sword Rhodes. He moved to Tampa, KS at the age of 2. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mildred Rhodes and Grayce Dahlinger and a brother, John Rhodes.

He graduated from Tampa High School and the Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, MO. He then worked for Bank of America in Sacramento, CA. Frank enlisted in the Army in 1942. He was a Paratrooper and served in Africa, Sicily, the invasions of Italy, Anzio, Southern France and through the Battle of the Bulge, all with the 509 Parachute Battalion. He received two Purple Hearts. After his Army service, he moved to Topeka and worked in the accounting department at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. After leaving Goodyear, he sold life insurance. He was a charter member of Trinity Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Elder and served on many other committees.

Frank married his high school sweetheart, Helen Kleiber at the Baptist church in Durham, KS on September 6, 1946. He is survived by his wife, Helen, three daughters, Susan Boeh (Alan) of Troy, KS, Jennifer Lee (Greg) of Topeka and Nancy Tillman (Don) of Topeka, six grandchildren, Emily Dore of Kansas City, KS, Amy Lee of Chicago, IL, Sarah Cerra of Troy, KS, Megan Grable of Troy, KS, Austin Tillman of Topeka and Ashley Tillman of Gardner, KS and four great-grandchildren, Austin, Gracie, Ella and Sophia.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Private inurnment will take place in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Topeka Rescue Mission, 600 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66608 or to Trinity Presbyterian Church 4746 SW 21st St., Topeka, KS 66604.