Franklin – William Jasper Rhodes, Jr., died Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at Southampton Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. Mr. Rhodes was born on December 26, 1930. He was the son of the late William J. and Lillian Hooker Rhodes.
Mr. Rhodes graduated from Franklin High School, The University of Virginia, and the T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He was president of Phi Delta Theta while at Virginia and president of Phi Alpha Delta at T. C. Williams.
A veteran of the Korean conflict, he served his country proudly as a member 0f the 185th Combat Engineer Battalion in Korea. He was a lifelong member of High Street United Methodist Church.
Mr. Rhodes was an active member of his community and was involved in many civic organizations. He was a life member of the University of Virginia Alumni Association and served as president of the Virginia Student Aid Foundation at the University and was a member of its Executive Committee. He was a past member of the Franklin Jaycees, Jaycees State Director, and DSA Award Winner. He was a past member and president of the Franklin Lions Club. He was a life member and past Commander of American Legion Post 73 and past Commander of the Fourth District American Legion. He was a member of the Virginia State Bar Association, past member of the Virginia Trial Lawyer's Association, and Franklin/Southampton County Bar Association. He served on Franklin City Council, the City Planning Commission, board of Zoning Appeals, and Southeastern Regional Planning Commission.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Catherine Phillips Rhodes of Franklin; his daughter, Kimberly Maxwell Rhodes of Virginia Beach; a sister, Jean Rhodes Boone of Chesapeake; a son-in-law, Leon Walden of Virginia Beach; his granddaughter, Kimberly Walden of Virginia Beach; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Rhodes was predeceased by his daughters, Carolyn Phillips Rhodes and Catherine Rhodes Walden.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A. M. on Friday, February 8th at Wright Funeral Home in Franklin with the Rev. Susan Reaves, the Rev. Edward Johnson, and the Rev. Ben Duffey officiating. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Ruth Camp Campbell Memorial Library, 280 North College Drive, Franklin, Va. 23851, High Street United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 218, Franklin, Va. 23851, or a charity of choice. www.wrightfuneralhome.org