Donald Everett Rhoades
Feb. 5, 1933-July 16, 2024
Redwood City,, California

Donald Everett Rhoades passed away peacefully July 16, 2024, in Redwood City, Ca. Don was born in Oakland, California to Dorothy & Donald Rhoades on February 5,1933. He and his twin sister Marilyn grew up in Palo Alto, Ca where he attended Palo Alto High School. After attending The Lawrenceville Scool in New Jersey for one year, he enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley. As a Golden Bear, he was a member of the water polo team and Zeta Epsilon Tao Fraternity. Following graduation in 1955, Don served in the US Navy, stationed in Hawaii and then attended business school in Europe.

Don joined Kaiser Permanente Aluminum & Chemicals Corporation as a project manager, overseeing port site development abroad. He spoke fondly of his travels to Austria, Germany and Ghana and his work in Jamaica where he oversaw the establishment of “Port Rhoades”, named in honor of his father.

Don later settled in Swansboro, in the foothills of Northern California. He enjoyed boating, water & snow skiing at Lake Tahoe where he won many blue ribbons as a trick water skier and speedboat racer. A pilot over 50 years Don especially loved to share the experience of riding in a Pitt’s Special while he flew loops, rolls & stall turns with those who could brave it.

Uncle Dusty is survived by his two nieces, Karen Hoffman Gilhuly and Sheila Hoffman Lee and the families. He is preceded in death by his niece Nancy Hoffman (2018) and his twin sister Marilyn Rhoades Hoffman (2017).

As a family friend said upon Don’s departure, “now he is blissfully flying his plane up in the heavens”.