Howard H. Rhoads, 85, of Cary, NC died August 4, 2026, at Waltonwood of Cary. He was the husband of Joyce Y. Rhoads. Howard and Joyce were married 64 years. Born August 21, 1940, in Coatesville, PA. He was the son of the late Sarah B. (Rudisill) Rhoads and the late Herbert E. Rhoads.
Howard retired in 2000 after a 20-year career as a residential real estate appraiser owning his own business for 19 of those years. Before that, he served in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1979, as a Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer and Air Operations Officer. He flew in the RB-66 from 1962 to 1967 flying 100 missions over North Vietnam. While in the Air Force he earned distinguished awards including Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Vietnam Services Medal.
Howard received a Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1973. He graduated from S. Horace Scott Senior High School in Coatesville in 1958.
Howard enjoyed tennis, golf, reading, woodworking, and being the household handyman. He also especially enjoyed camping and traveling having been to 49 states His travels included many trips to Europe as well as Asia, South America and Central America. Family was very important to Howard. He loved spending time with family and friends.
Howard is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughter, Christine Kastner (Robert) of Cary, NC; and son, David Rhoads (Annette) of Chantilly, VA; with five grandchildren, Laura Kastner Biggs (Ian), Brian Kastner (Jung Lee), Nicole Rhoads, Megan Rhoads-Bobbitt (Abraham), and Jeffrey Rhoads; two great grandchildren, Blair Biggs and William Biggs; and his sister, Lydia Harry (Earl Powell).
A graveside service with military honors will be held Friday, December 4, 2026, at 3:00 pm at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Transitions LifeCare - a hospice and palliative care provider that cared for Howard, (https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/), or the Air & Space Forces Aid Society - an official charity for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, (https://afas.org/donate/), or the Alliance of Therapy Dogs - the visits Howard received from therapy dogs meant so much to him,
(https://therapydogs.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amount=50&campaign_id=0), or the North Carolina Master Chorale - Howard's daughter Christine is the Executive Director of Master Chorale - he enjoyed attending concerts when he was able, (https://ncmasterchorale.org/give/).
Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC, is serving the Rhoads family.
