Elton Dibble Rhodes

Elton Dibble Rhodes, 91, of Old Saybrook, passed away at home surrounded by two generations of his family on January 20, 2015. A lifelong resident of Old Saybrook, Elton was born on January 27, 1923 and was the son of the late Clifford Ralph Rhodes and Julia Dibble Rhodes.

He was raised on a farm on Schoolhouse Road, where as a kid, he helped with livestock as well as delivered ice for Crystal Lake Ice Co., owned by his grandfather, Elton Dibble. The ice house was on the site of the now town park on Schoolhouse Rd., and bordered his family’s farm.

Elton graduated from Old Saybrook High School, Class of 1941. He was a member of the Greatest Generation, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII, and was primarily stationed in England during the war.

After returning home from the service, he married Dorothy Woods, to whom he was married for 66 years. They built their home on farmland that his parents had owned and were active in the Old Saybrook community for decades, serving on the Town Planning Commission, Old Saybrook Rotary Club, and as members of the OS Congregational Church and OS Republican Party. He was also a Mason.

Elton was a residential custom builder, and ran his own business for over 40 years, building or renovating scores of houses on the shoreline.

He ran for Judge of Probate in Old Saybrook in 1968, winning numerous re-elections to serve in that post for over 25 years. His wife Dorothy was Clerk of the Court during that time and together they devotedly served constituents with compassion and sincerity.

Most of all, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and loved being with immediate and extended family at home or in Englewood, FL, where he and Dorothy spent portions of their winters for 15 years. He loved his Florida house, where he could be found captaining his boat filled with children and grandchildren and spending time on the waters off Manasota Key.

He was predeceased by his wife, as well as his sisters Margaret Engel of Windsor, and Mary Wilson of East Hartford. He is survived by his children: Lisa Rhodes of Old Saybrook, Clifford Rhodes and his wife Lynne Rhodes of Old Saybrook, and Julie Rhodes-Purvis and her husband Gerald Purvis, of Old Saybrook; grandchildren: Clayton Morell of Brooklyn, NY; Elizabeth Purvis of Waterford, Marilyn Purvis of New Haven, and Elton and Maggie Purvis, of Old Saybrook; Nicole and Lauren Rhodes, of Old Saybrook; in-laws Thomas Woods of Glastonbury, CT, Joan and Steve Makgill of Fripp Island, SC, and Marilyn and Buck Cody of Naples, FL and Old Saybrook; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Services are under the direction of Swan Funeral Home, Old Saybrook. A private memorial service for the family will be held in the summer when the entire family is able to be in CT.

Memorial donations may be made to the Old Saybrook Fire Department or the Old Saybrook Ambulance Association. Please visit www.swanfuneralhomeoldsaybrook.com for online tributes and condolences.