CHARLES RHOADES

He retired from the Weirton Steel Corp., where he worked 42.5 years in the Blast Furnace.

Chuck was a member of the Toronto Church of the Nazarene and the Empire Methodist Church where he served as an usher, helped with Bible School, worked on building projects, and sang in the choir. He was a retired member of the Toronto Volunteer Fire Department, with 39 years of service, a former volunteer for TEMS Joint Ambulance District, and a part-time school bus driver.

Chuck was an avid outdoorsman with a love of fishing, hunting, and trap shooting. Chuck loved everything about fishing, teaching his children and grandchildren the methods and “secrets” of fishing. It didn’t matter if it was 100 degrees, raining, or 15 degrees while fishing on the ice, Chuck just loved to fish.

Chuck never knew a stranger. He would throw his hand up driving through town at nearly every vehicle he passed, waving a greeting. He was a very giving man, lending money, teaching skills, listening to others’ problems, and giving the best bear hugs to anyone who needed one. His kindness and generosity were known throughout Toronto.

Chuck was very involved in the lives of his family and the community, attending ball games, band concerts, choir concerts, participating in church musicals, leading a Boy Scout troop, fighting fires, driving ambulance for Toronto EMS, working with the Toronto Band Parents, and many other things.

Chuck was a skilled builder and craftsman as well. He built the house his family has lived in for more than 50 years, and worked on churches, friends’ houses, boats, campers, cars, etc.

In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene (Fryman) Rhoades who passed July 21, 2024, on their 63rd wedding anniversary; four sisters, Edith Williams, Betty Monezis, Charlotte Gardner, and Darlene Taylor.

Chuck leaves behind three children, Trudy (John) Wilson of Toronto, Cindy (Joshua) White of Green, OH, and Jay (Stacie) Rhoades of Pataskala, OH; and four grandchildren, Victoria and Hunter Wilson, and Lee and Nathan Rhoades, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, Dec. 27, from 4pm – 7pm at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Toronto, with additional viewing on Saturday from 10am – 11am. A funeral service for Chuck will follow at 11am, officiated by the Reverend Dennis Kelley, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Eric Frey. Burial will follow in the Island Creek Cemetery in Toronto.

Memorial donations may be made to Valley Hospice, 10686 State Route 150, Rayland, OH 43943. www.jefosterfh.com