Richard Paul Rhodes, 82, passed away peacefully on December 4th, 2022 in a nursing home facility in Granby, Missouri. He was born on December 25th, 1939 in Pryor, Oklahoma to Cam Buchanan "Buck" and Eula Mae Compton Rhodes. Richard was an enrolled tribal member of the Cherokee Nation.

Richard grew up in Miami, Oklahoma and attended public schools there. At age 18, he enlisted in the US Army and served in the Army Security Service at Fort Devens Massachusetts. Throughout his adult life he never let it be known outside a small circle of family and friends that he was a service-related disabled veteran. He endured his disability and never wanted special treatment in work or play.

While on assignment to guard prisoners being returned to their duty stations in the late 1950's, the vehicle he was in was crushed by a train in a blinding snowstorm. As one of the two survivors, Richard spent several months convalescing at Walter Reed Army Hospital. With metal pins in his arm and leg and internal injuries, Richard served out his enlistment. Returning home, he worked as a cook and baker while taking Industrial Arts and welding courses at NEO A&M college.

Richard became a skilled heliarc welder and spent his working career in steel fabrication and welding. In Tulsa he worked at Slagel Manufacturing for many years before moving to Springfield, Mo. to work for Paul Mueller Company. There he worked in quality assurance, inspection and training of heliarc welders in addition to his work on precision welding projects.

After retirement in 2005, Richard focused on his hobbies of fishing and designing jewelry and knife handles inlaid with semi-precious stones in unique Cherokee colors, styles and patterns. The Cherokee rose was his favorite flower and its outline appears on many of his items. His inlay work was sold in Casinos and shops as well as online but much of his work was custom designed for collectors.

Richard loved to cook, but not the cleanup. His specialty was deep-fried catfish and hushpuppies. His venison stews, cornbread and steaks hot from the grill attracted neighbors and friends. When in good health he grew his own vegetables in a garden that often was weedy but the produce was large, plentiful and delicious.

Richard is survived by his sister, Margaret Ann Sparlin (Harvey) of Coeur d'Alene, ID; two brothers; Robert Earl Rhodes (Diana) of Centralia, WA and Douglas Cam Rhodes (Judy Kay) of Oakton, VA. In his early years, Richard enjoyed forty first cousins, many of whom have preceded him in death. Not having children of his own, Richard cherished his many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, December 17, 2022 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, Tulsa, OK with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery with Military Honors. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com