James Benly Rhoades III was born on December 22, 1939 in Leesville, Texas to Madelyn Moravits and James Benly Rhoades Jr. He peacefully passed from this life on October 6, 2018. His early years were spent in Stockdale where his parents managed a dairy farm. Jim graduated from Nixon High School in 1958 where he played football. He met the love of his life, Shirley Froehner, at a church softball game and later followed her to Austin where she was attending Nursing School. Jim graduated from Nixon-Clay Business School in Austin in 1960.
He was united in marriage to Shirley on July 16, 1960. They purchased their home in northeast Austin in 1962 where they lived for the rest of their lives. Jim had a variety of occupations including working as an Orderly at the State Hospital, Route Driver for Rainbow Bakery, Manager for Moormans Feed Supply, Service Technician for Sawyer Vending, Disaster Specialist with FEMA, and Pilot Driver for Nixon Engineering. Whatever his occupation, Jim’s greatest strength was interacting with all those he came in contact with.
Jim was an active member of Memorial United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where he served in many ways. He enjoyed his work with the Trustees of the church in the upkeep of the church property and early Saturday morning breakfasts with the Methodist Men.
Shirley and Jim shared a great passion for the University of Texas sports and attended home football games for many years. Jim could provide you with up-to-the-minute standings of the soccer and softball teams if you just asked. He also had a great love for the outdoors. He was always excited to share his passion for hunting with his family and especially enjoyed taking his grandson, Tyler, hunting with the guys in Zapata.
Jim was ever-present at any extracurricular activity in which his grandchildren participated. Whether it was a football, baseball, softball, soccer game, or band concert, Jim was there cheering his grandkids on. He took great delight in traveling with Hannah and the McCallum softball team to Orlando for spring training.
Jim is survived by his daughter Laura and son-in-law Kendall Smith; grandchildren Joshua and Alexandria Smith, Genesis and Smith Cornell, Tyler Moore and Hannah Smith; great grandchildren Eleanor and Wilson Smith and Chyenne, Sophia, Toby, Zane and Taylor Cornell and numerous colleagues and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Shirley and daughter Lisa. A reunion in heaven - what a day of rejoicing!
The family especially wishes to thank Dr. Jerry Vandel and Kindred Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care of our dad and “Poppy”.
A Memorial Service will be held for Jim at 2:30 PM on Friday, October 12, 2018 at Memorial United Methodist Church at 6100 Berkman Drive in Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Memorial UMC in Austin, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin, TX 78723.
