Lucille Rhodes Obituary

Lucille Lindenberg Rhodes Mt. Pleasant - Lucille Lindenberg Rhodes, 100, died at Franke at Seaside in Mount Pleasant on August 15, 2021. She was born November 17, 1920, to the late Leila Classen Lindenberg and Harry Cedric Lindenberg. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 68 years and the love of her life, William (Billy) Boyd Rhodes, Jr.; her daughter, Sherron Rhodes Hull; her siblings, Leila Lindenberg Powers, her twin brother, Harry C. Lindenberg, Jr., Virginia Lindenberg Theiling, and Edward A. Lindenberg. Visitation will be from 5 -7 p.m., on Tuesday, August 17, and the funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 18. Both will be held at Stuhr's Funeral Home West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Pkwy. Burial will follow at Live Oak Cemetery on Ashley River Road. The Rev. Alvin Shrum, chaplain at Franke, will officiate. Pallbearers will be Henry W. Theiling, Jr., Dale L. Theiling, Brent A.Theiling, Ronald D. Theiling, Harry C. Lindenberg III and Kenneth E. Powers, Jr. Social distancing and masks will be observed. Mrs. Rhodes was a life-long Lutheran. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in St. Johannes Lutheran Church. After moving to West Ashley in the 1950s, she became a member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Despite being twins, Lucille and Harry were born on different days - she before midnight and he after. Mrs. Rhodes graduated from Mitchell School at age 16. Fellow classmate, the late Sen. Fritz Hollings, would remark every time he saw her or a family member that "she was the smartest girl in the class." She went straight into the College of Charleston where, despite her diminutive stature of 5' 3", she lettered for three years on the women's six-member basketball team. Walking across campus one day, she was seen by her former next door neighbor, Billy Rhodes, who went home and told his mother he had seen one of those Lindenberg girls and he was going to marry her. As part of the Greatest Generation, Mrs. Rhodes did her part while her husband was overseas by working at the Charleston Naval Shipyard as a clerk. She found her true calling and passion when she became an elementary school teacher after World War II ended. Most of her 32-year teaching experience took place at Stono Park Elementary School in West Ashley. Years after she quit teaching, she would run into former students who almost always commented that she had been their favorite teacher. Her biggest honor during her years as an educator came when she was Stono Park's nomination for the District's Teacher of the Year. When Mrs. Rhodes retired from teaching, she became a volunteer at Roper Hospital. She volunteered there as long as she taught school, 30 years, leaving at age 90 when she and her husband moved to Franke at Seaside. She contributed more than 6,000 volunteer hours. She was once named Volunteer of the Month for her dedication and hard work at record-keeping. Mrs. Rhodes is survived by her children, Bill and Myriam Rhodes of Knoxville, Tennessee, Rachel Rhodes-Dyar and Ken Dyar of Hephzibah, Georgia, Jeff and Margaret Rhodes of Hiram, Georgia, beloved son-in-law, Stacy Hull and his wife, Dr. Anne Hull of Charleston; grandchildren Lowell Hull of Summerville, Allison and David Nulph of Arlington, Virginia, Amanda and Brett Lewis, and Matthew Rhodes, all of Knoxville; plus two great-granddaughters, Makenzie Lewis of Knoxville and Gracie Rhodes of Weaver, Alabama. She also is survived by several cousins, numerous nephews, nieces, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. She has had a major impact on family, friends, co-workers and generations of third graders. She raised four children who turned out well, so "(Lucille,) you've really had a wonderful life." Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston