She earned a bachelor of science degree in home economics in 1928 from Cornell University. She pursued further education at the Universities of Colorado (Boulder), Albany, Buffalo, Miami, and Syracuse. She was inducted into the national honorary teacher’s sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma.
Mrs. Rhodes was a history and home economics teacher at Bemus Point Central School, Jamestown High School and Southwestern Central School from 1931 until her retirement in 1962. During the Depression when jobs were scarce, especially for women, she taught new owners of White sewing machines living in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie counties how to use their machines.
Inspired to travel, she and her college roommate traveled to the Middle East in 1930, climbed the Great Pyramid and also saw King Tut’s tomb and treasures before they were moved to the Cairo Museum. Her love of travel took her all over the world with her husband. Detailed journals of their experiences reflect her immense curiosity about history, current events, ancient culture and people, that continued throughout her life.
Mrs. Rhodes was a formidable bridge player at the Women's Club in Santa Barbara. She loved to recite poetry, had a wonderful sense of humor, and possessed a very practical and resilient personal philosophy that gave her strength and a healthy perspective on life.
She was the wife of the late Ralph Rhodes; daughter of the late Henry Joshua and Emma (Rickards) Wallace: and mother of Douglas Rhodes of Yardley, PA and Sondra Rice of Santa Barbara; also survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, 222 E Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
Arrangements were by the Mentley Funeral Home Inc., Gowanda.