Norman D. Rhodes

June 6, 1923 - October 12, 2016

Norman Rhodes, 93, of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, at Northeastern Medical Center, Gainesville, GA. He was the son of Bill and Grace Kelly Rhodes. Norman was born on June 6, 1923, in Flushing, New York. He served 4 1/2 years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He started work in the entrepreneurial dry cleaning industry, where he also worked as a tailor. He retired after 30 years with Kollsman instruments in management. His passion throughout his life was baseball and the New York Yankees. At age 7, he practiced daily to develop his pitching skills. He was recruited by the Cincinnati Reds as a pitcher. He then went on to play softball until the age of 89, during which time he won a world series with the Fort Myers 80-plus softball team. The team was honored and celebrated in Tallahassee for this accomplishment, where he received a world series ring that he wore proudly. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Punta Gorda. Norman will be greatly missed by his wife of 32 years, Marjorie Rhodes; daughter, Dotty-Jean Houck; sons, Douglas Sloan and Norman Rhodes Jr.; grandson, Ryan; granddaughters, Kristy and Danielle; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Patricia Rhodes, and his daughter, Nancy; one sister and two brothers. Arrangements are by Kays Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home and Royal Palm Memorial Gardens.