Robert H. Rhoads, Sr. – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps

From a contemporary press report

Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Rhoads Sr., 87, a World War II veteran and longtime resident of University Park, Maryland, died Sunday, June 11, 1995, at his home.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1923 and completed Flight Training School in Pensacola, Florida, in 1925. During his career as a Marine Corps flier he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served aboard the carriers Saratoga and Langley. Other assignments included two years in Haiti and five in the Bureau of Aeronautics in the Navy Department.

Colonel Rhoads retired on medical disability in 1943 but was recalled to active duty immediately to supervise the overhauling of Navy aircraft at Cherry Point, North Carolina. He retired a second time in 1946.

He moved to University Park to attend the University of Maryland and studied agronomy and animal husbandry for a number of years. An avid sports fan and bridge player, he was a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association. Colonel Rhoads is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth; a daughter, Barbara Talbott of Bowie; two sons, Robert H. Rhoads Jr. of Bethesda and John W. Rhoads of Bowie; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 am tomorrow at the old Fort Myer Chapel, with burial in Arlington National Cemetery. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the American Heart Association.

RHOADS, ELIZABETH H. ”BETSY” (Age 98)

Peacefully on July 16, 1999, surrounded by her family at home. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Colonel Robert H. Rhoads, USMC (Ret.) Beloved mother of three children, Barbara Talbott of Bowie, MD, Robert H. Rhoads of Pinehurst, NC and John W. Rhoads of Bowie, MD; daughters-in-law, Helen and Lottie; the cherished grandmother of six grandchildren, Michael, Maureen, Betsy, Barbara, Deborah and John Jr.; eight great-grandchildren; her brother, William and his wife, Helen; and a legion of friends. She molded our lives and will be missed by all.  Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Meyer Chapel on Thursday, July 22, 1999, at 3:00 p.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Church of Christ, Scientist, Hyattsville, MD, Hospice of Prince George’s County or Collington Residents’ Association, Mitchellville, Maryland.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard