William Lawrence (Larry) Rhodes

William Lawrence (Larry) Rhodes, 87, died at home in Swannanoa, NC on Monday 17 March 2025 after a life well and truly lived.

He was born in 1937 to Max Rufus Rhodes and Margaret Ellen (Carter)Rhodes in Raleigh, NC. An only child, he graduated high school in Wise, VA and after studying music for 3 semesters at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City,TN joined the U.S.Navy.

He was trained as a Hospital Corpsman and stationed at Naval Hospital, San Diego, CA where he met Janet Carole Compere who was a nurse at the same hospital. They married in the hospital's chapel in June 1957. After his time in the Navy, Larry and Jan moved to Kansas City, MO.

Larry worked at the U.S. Post Office in Kansas City, MO, rising from a mailroom temp to Supervisor of the Procurement Office, where as he was fond of saying, "We buy, sell, swap, and swipe." He took a degree in Geology from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and attended numerous management courses with the Postal Service.

In 1976 he transferred to the Postal Service's Western Area Supply center in Topeka, KS for the rest of his career. At the supply center he was instrumental in automating contracting and supply inventory. While living in Topeka he rekindled a love of bicycling, holding a number of positions with local bicycling groups and later with the Kansas Rails-to-trails organization.

He held a number of positions in the Kansas Democratic Party and was a delegate to the 1992 and 1996 Democratic National Conventions. He moved to Asheville, NC in 2010 to be near his mother and son.

Since moving to Asheville, he was an active member of First Baptist Church of Asheville, serving on a number of committees and singing in the choir. His Sunday School classmates held a special place in his heart. He was an active volunteer at the Old Buncombe Genealogical Library where he served in a variety of roles. His interests, just to name a few and in no particular order included geology, nature, camping, mysteries, film noir, photography, history, travel, genealogy, and computers.

He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Jan. He is survived by his son and daugher-in-law William L. (Bill) Rhodes and Sheri Barker of Swannanoa, NC, and his son and daughter-in-law Charles B. (Chuck Aurora) Rhodes Sharon Aurora of Iuka, MS. Also survived by grandchildren Tom (Karen), Julia, Jamie, Kelly (Jake), Charlie, honorary grandchildren Justin and Katie and great grand daughter Azlynn. And his cat, Hamish.

Those who knew him best will remember his gentle and compassionate nature, and his wicked sense of humor. He will long be missed.

A celebration of life service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on June 14, 2025 (his 88th birthday) at First Baptist Church of Asheville.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Swannanoa Communities Together, a Helene recovery/relief organization.

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