William Rhoads

Beloved husband and father William Schaeffer ("Bill") Rhoads of Frederick, MD departed this life on August 5, 2017. The elder son of Austin Engelbrecht Rhoads and Mildred Louise Thomas, he was born on April 3, 1931 in Frederick, and married Barbara F. Pyles on June 23, 1957.

Mr. Rhoads earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Science in 1950, followed by a Master’s degree in the same field in 1951, both from Strayer University. He is a veteran of the Korean War, having been deployed to Korea from 1953-1955. While in the army, Mr. Rhoads was a member of the Signal Corp as well as playing the clarinet for the 25th Infantry Division Band.

Mr. Rhoads had a long career as an accountant and auditor, working at several area businesses, including Thurmont Construction Company, the Interstate Bridge Company of Maryland, and James S. Grimes, Inc., from which he retired in 1999.

An active member of the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ in Frederick, MD, Mr. Rhoads was elected deacon, elder, treasurer, vice president and president of the consistory, regularly serving on the stewardship and finance committees and singing in the choir for more than 60 years. Mr. Rhoads became a Master Mason in 1953 and was a member of Lynch Masonic Lodge #163, Frederick. A lifelong music lover, he sang with the Catoctones from 1965-1979. He was a longtime member of the board of trustees for the C. Burr Arts Library in Frederick.

Mr. Rhoads is survived by Barbara Pyles Rhoads, his wife for 60 years; his brother, Austin Thomas Rhoads and wife Shirley Hense Rhoads of Fulton, MD; son Michael Austin Rhoads and wife Belinda Yinger Rhoads of Barnesville, MD; and son Gregory Scott Rhoads and wife Lynn Arlene Searfoss of Boone, NC.

A memorial service will be held at the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 W. Church Street, Frederick, on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 10:30, preceded by a visitation at 9:30. A reception will follow the service. The interment service will be private. A memorial celebration to take place at Homewood is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ Building Fund, 15 W. Church Street, Frederick MD 21701; or the Homewood at Crumland Farms Endowment Fund, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick MD 21702.