Joseph Richard “Rip” Rhea, 85, passed away March 23, 2014 in Memphis, TN. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Korean Conflict, a structural engineer and a long time member of Colonial Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He was also a scout master for 30 plus years and a member of the Memphis Senior Bowling League and Senior Games Team. Mr. Rhea was preceded in death by his parents Thomas “Red” and Lillian Rhea, his son David Lawrence Rhea and brother Thomas Norman Rhea (Bernice). He is survived by his loving wife Joanie Rhea; daughter Lin Rhea-Reed (Ken); son Dickie Rhea (Elizabeth); grandchildren Joseph Rhea (Allison), Stephen Rhea (Rebecca), Daniel Rhea (Hilarie) and a loving collie, Tema. The family will receive friends from 9:30a.m. until 11a.m. Thursday, March 27 and a funeral service will be held at Colonial Baptist Church 1503 Colonial Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38117, with interment to follow at Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Colonial Baptist Church and The Boy Scouts of America.
