1934
Virginia
2013
Virginia Rhodes
September 3, 1934 — August 19, 2013
Virginia Rhodes, 78, of Amarillo passed to glory on Monday, August 19, 2013.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at The Church of Christ at the Colonies with Kregg Rhodes, Dick Marcear, Don Stone and Billy Parks officiating. Mike Prather and Billy Parks will officiate at a graveside service at 4:00 p.m. in the Bovina Cemetery. The family invites the Bovina community to share a celebration of her life at the Bovina Church of Christ following the graveside service. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo, Texas.
Virginia was Foy and Grace Bailey’s daughter, born in Clovis, New Mexico on September 3, 1934. As a child of the depression, she always found a use for any stamp lacking a postmark, salvaged the last bit of toothpaste from the tube, and allowed merchants the opportunity to honor their coupons.
Virginia married Thomas Rhodes on November 27, 1953 in Clovis, New Mexico. The Rhodeses began farming south of Friona in 1959. In 1965, they moved west of Bovina where they farmed Ellison family land until 1992. Virginia was an important part of the farming operations. When the family first purchased a combine and trucks, Virginia was the primary truck driver. After tarping the trucks, she would jump furrows and cross ditches to get the trucks out of the field, all the while talking to the kids about the need to “stay in ‘Granny Gear’ until you’re on the road.” Dragging cotton trailers with her daughter Rhonda while enjoying a Tab was another of Virginia’s contributions to the farming operations.
After planting a love for snow skiing, Virginia gave up the sport in the early 1970’s. She relished jumping in Ute Lake to help her grandkids and many other family members and friends learn to water ski.
In the late 1960’s, Virginia began her commute from the farm west of Bovina and attended West Texas State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1972 and her Master’s degree in 1980. Virginia then taught in the Bovina Public Schools, allowing her to expand grammar correction beyond family to many students. Following her teaching career, Virginia turned her attention to her antiquing, sewing, bridge and traveling. Virginia never lost her skill and expertise in preparing a feast for her family, and many Amarilloans enjoyed Bovina corn.
Thomas and Virginia moved to Amarillo in 2000 and have been active members of Central Church of Christ and the Colonies Church of Christ. She served as President of The Amarillo Antique Club from 2006 to 2008.
The Rhodeses enjoyed many international trips. A particular treat was a 2008 trip to Paris with daughter, Rhonda, and granddaughter, Ragan. While in Paris, they enjoyed a Fat Tire Bike Tour with grandson, Kregg, serving as the tour guide.
Virginia’s survivors include her husband, Thomas Rhodes of Amarillo, her daughter, Rhonda and husband Terry Howard of Denver, Colorado, and her son, Alan Rhodes and wife Robyn of Amarillo. Beloved as Grammy to her grandchildren, her inner and outer beauty survives in Ragan Armstrong of Lubbock, Katherine Parks, husband Billy, and great-granddaughters Abigail and Alden of North Richland Hills, Texas, Kregg Rhodes and wife Julie of Dallas, and Jena Rhodes of Dallas.
Virginia is also survived by her brother, Jerry Bailey and wife Nita of Clovis, New Mexico, her sister-in-law, Jeanie Bailey of Lubbock, her sister, Karen McCall and husband Mike of Hempstead, Texas, her sister, Leta Harvel and husband Chuck of Aiken, South Carolina, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Wilson and husband Fred of Amarillo, and a great cloud of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 21, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the High Plains Children’s Home, P. O. Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79118 or the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, New Mexico 88130.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at The Church of Christ at the Colonies with Kregg Rhodes, Dick Marcear, Don Stone and Billy Parks officiating. Mike Prather and Billy Parks will officiate at a graveside service at 4:00 p.m. in the Bovina Cemetery. The family invites the Bovina community to share a celebration of her life at the Bovina Church of Christ following the graveside service. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo, Texas.
Virginia was Foy and Grace Bailey’s daughter, born in Clovis, New Mexico on September 3, 1934. As a child of the depression, she always found a use for any stamp lacking a postmark, salvaged the last bit of toothpaste from the tube, and allowed merchants the opportunity to honor their coupons.
Virginia married Thomas Rhodes on November 27, 1953 in Clovis, New Mexico. The Rhodeses began farming south of Friona in 1959. In 1965, they moved west of Bovina where they farmed Ellison family land until 1992. Virginia was an important part of the farming operations. When the family first purchased a combine and trucks, Virginia was the primary truck driver. After tarping the trucks, she would jump furrows and cross ditches to get the trucks out of the field, all the while talking to the kids about the need to “stay in ‘Granny Gear’ until you’re on the road.” Dragging cotton trailers with her daughter Rhonda while enjoying a Tab was another of Virginia’s contributions to the farming operations.
After planting a love for snow skiing, Virginia gave up the sport in the early 1970’s. She relished jumping in Ute Lake to help her grandkids and many other family members and friends learn to water ski.
In the late 1960’s, Virginia began her commute from the farm west of Bovina and attended West Texas State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1972 and her Master’s degree in 1980. Virginia then taught in the Bovina Public Schools, allowing her to expand grammar correction beyond family to many students. Following her teaching career, Virginia turned her attention to her antiquing, sewing, bridge and traveling. Virginia never lost her skill and expertise in preparing a feast for her family, and many Amarilloans enjoyed Bovina corn.
Thomas and Virginia moved to Amarillo in 2000 and have been active members of Central Church of Christ and the Colonies Church of Christ. She served as President of The Amarillo Antique Club from 2006 to 2008.
The Rhodeses enjoyed many international trips. A particular treat was a 2008 trip to Paris with daughter, Rhonda, and granddaughter, Ragan. While in Paris, they enjoyed a Fat Tire Bike Tour with grandson, Kregg, serving as the tour guide.
Virginia’s survivors include her husband, Thomas Rhodes of Amarillo, her daughter, Rhonda and husband Terry Howard of Denver, Colorado, and her son, Alan Rhodes and wife Robyn of Amarillo. Beloved as Grammy to her grandchildren, her inner and outer beauty survives in Ragan Armstrong of Lubbock, Katherine Parks, husband Billy, and great-granddaughters Abigail and Alden of North Richland Hills, Texas, Kregg Rhodes and wife Julie of Dallas, and Jena Rhodes of Dallas.
Virginia is also survived by her brother, Jerry Bailey and wife Nita of Clovis, New Mexico, her sister-in-law, Jeanie Bailey of Lubbock, her sister, Karen McCall and husband Mike of Hempstead, Texas, her sister, Leta Harvel and husband Chuck of Aiken, South Carolina, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Wilson and husband Fred of Amarillo, and a great cloud of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 21, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the High Plains Children’s Home, P. O. Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79118 or the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, New Mexico 88130.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Rhodes, please visit our flower store.