The Lord was ready and He called his faithful son Robert W. “Bob” Rhodes home to walk the streets of gold beside Him on May 20, 2026 surrounded by his wife and daughters.

Born to Claire C. and Margaret V. (Feigh) Rhodes in Pittsburgh on January 10, 1941, at the age of seventeen, he entered the United States Army. Bob proudly served his country as a radar operator at the Painesville NIKE site protecting Cleveland's airspace.

Bob was devoted to his family, his church, and Christ. He received certification from the Moody Bible Institute. Bob realized his calling was not to lead a congregation but to teach the Word of God in small classes. He led many to the Lord.

He married Norma Jean (Johnson) Kelley on October 27, 1984 and made their home in Mentor on the Lake. Bob had many hobbies over the years including birding, chess, golf, magic tricks, and juggling. But by far his favorite pastime was his model trains. He built an N scale train scene and spent endless hours perfecting every last detail.

Bob loved food. He would tell you that he never had a bad pizza. He enjoyed mowing the lawn at Country Baptist Church, westerns, Fox News, Formula One Racing, and being at home with his family.

He retired from Lake Hospital System spending twenty-eight years years running the boilers which heated the hospital. Bob loved third shift. He worked thirds most of his working days. Always a night owl, even after retirement.

Bob leaves behind his wife of forty-one years, Norma Jean, daughters Melissa (Richard)

Wormald, Meredith (Gabe) Gemma, and Debbie (David) Waclawski; grandchildren Crystal, Robert, Adam, Josie, Abby, Gabe, Steve, Jason, and Evan; and many great and great-great grandchildren.

Those who left his world before Bob include his parents, grandson, Donald Kelley and son, Thomas Kelley.

Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

Well done, Bob, well done.

Funeral service will be held at Country Baptist Church at 9054 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor, Ohio 44060 at 2pm Sunday, May 24, 2026. Friends may call just prior to the service. Graveside service will be held Wednesday May 27, 2026 at 10 am at Bethel Cemetery in Jonesville, Virginia. It is requested that family and friends meet at the cemetery at 9:50 am for the service. Pastor Bryan Gunter will officiate.

Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor. Jones-Powell Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family in Lee County, VA

To leave condolences for the family or to order flowers, visit wwwjonesfamilyservices.com.