Perry Wayne Rhoads

Cape Cod's Aviation community lost one its truly unique characters when Perry Rhoads passed away on March 2, 2014 after a brief battle with cancer. Perry was born in Carroll. Iowa, the son of Wilbur N. Rhoads (deceased) and Virginia C. (Mikieta) Cooper. Perry graduated Tempe, AZ High School and American Institute for Business in Des Moines, Iowa. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, serving aboard the submarine USS Permit-594 as a marine diesel engine technician.

Perry previously worked for JOhn Deere Credit Services before relocating to the Cape. His mechanical skills and oversized personality eventually led him to the Barnstable Airport, where he worked for Hyannis Air Service, Capeflight and Griffin Aviation over the past 24 years, earning the nickname "Rampdawg". He was recently employed by Rectrix Aviation Services in Sarasota, FL. Perry being from the Midwest, was a huge Green Bay Packers fan, NASCAR fan, model train enthusiast and vegetable gradener. Most of all Perry will be rembered by everyone who met him as someone who interacted with people as if he knew them his entire life. Whether it was store clerks, people he met on the street or via the phone, all you had to do was interact with him once, and you'd go away with a smile and shaking your head with amusement. That was Perry just being Perry. He will be fondly recalled for his devilish side, always eager for a good prank or joke, but only where his victims, knowing they had been had, laughed as much as he did, which usually led to endless cycles of paybacks and more pranks.

Perry leaves behind his best friend and devoted partner of 25 yeras, Paula Leveille of Sandwich, MA, daughter Stephanie and grandson Jonathan Rhoads of Texas, son Dustin Rhoads of Iowa, stepdaughter April Lacey of MA , mother Virginia Cooper of HI, brother Neil Rhoads of HI, sister Cindy McIntosh of MN, close friends Ed, Paul, Johnny and so many others too numerous to list here.

A Memorial Celebration of his life will be held at Rectrix Aerodrome at Barnstable Municipal Airport on Saturday May 3, 2014 from 10 am to 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Angel Flight. (www.angelflightne.org). A very special thanks to Kevin Bradley at Rectrix, who coordinated the medical flight to bring him home to his family. Also a huge Thank You to Phil Geraci of Rectrix and Jim and Jean Griffin og Griffin Avionics for their help in coordinating the memorial service. Condolences may be expressed in memory of Perry online at www:nickersonbournefuneralhome.com