Doran Loyal Rhodes, Jr.
Sept. 17, 1957 – Oct. 15, 2024
Dusty Rhodes was born September 17, 1957, in Munich, Germany as Doran Loyal Rhodes, Jr. His father, Doran Loyal Rhodes, Sr., was serving there in the United States Army. His mother, Effie Starlyne (Mathews) Rhodes, called him Dusty even before he was born. As a toddler he lived in Edison, Nebraska and Arapahoe, Nebraska where his grandparents had a great impact on him and his siblings. His family moved to North Platte, Nebraska in 1970 where he met his future wife, Valerie, and graduated from high school in 1976.
After high school, he went off to college and lived in several different states including California, Colorado, Indiana, Texas, and eventually made his home in Overland Park, Kansas where he established his career as a successful programmer.
Dusty left this earth and went to his heavenly reward October 15, 2024, where he rejoined his parents and grandparents, and many numerous others he loved who had gone before him.
Dusty’s beautiful profession of faith in The Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God was clearly evident to the very end in his battle with Pancreatic Cancer.
Dusty is survived by his beloved wife Valerie Rhodes; son Joshua Rhodes; son Brandon Rhodes and wife Zenobia; daughter Stacy and husband Vince Neal with grandson Judah and granddaughter Eliana due to arrive in mid-November; and daughter Raeann and husband Heath Bowman.
Visitation will be held November 2, 2024, with the family receiving friends at 10:00am. Dusty’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service in Song will follow at 11:00, at Westbrooke Church in Overland Park, Kansas. The service will be live-streamed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/yWV1hPBRIqg?si=6UZJxWw16p5DS2Q9
Memorial donations for Dusty Rhodes can be made to:
Hope Embraced
P.0. Box 581
North Platte, NE 69103-0581
From Dusty’s wife, Valerie:
Dusty is too amazing to put into words but, I will try.
Dusty had a golden voice that shaped his life. As teenagers we sang together in choirs and various music groups, even touring in Nebraska. Throughout high school and college, he was a disc jockey at Christian radio stations where his pleasant voice would introduce music and deliver news reports.
When he was young, he dreamed of being a forest ranger because he loved the mountains. He also served as a firefighter before he began his career in computer programming at an envelope company. He had a unique analytical mind and was superb as a senior programmer at several companies. He was a trusted ‘listening ear’ to colleagues, friends and family. He was a sounding board that people could confide in, and seemed to always know just what to say, even if he didn’t have all of the answers.
In the year 2004, Dusty had Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgins Lymphoma. The cancer was Stage 4 with fluid in his chest when it was discovered. I was blessed to be at his side throughout the difficult journey and learned how to become his caregiver. He survived all the treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. His official “New Birthday” due to the BMT was November 22, 2004. Many have noted how God gave Dusty 20 bonus years.
Music was a vital part of Dusty’s life. He was exceptionally gifted and played several instruments, finding his passion for the guitar at age 13. We were blessed that our home was constantly filled with music, either from the vast variety of artists that he loved or Dusty playing his guitar and singing daily.
Dusty utilized his musical gifts to serve as a Worship Leader and also perform at churches, nursing homes, and various events. He always asked God to help him select appropriate music to fit the occasion. He even carefully chose all the music for his own Celebration of Life Memorial Service in Song.
Baseball was also a daily constant in his life. When his sons were little, he coached Little League. He also taught his daughters and grandson to play baseball. He was such a baseball fan that he knew ALL of the statistics about every player, every team, and every World Series. He knew who is, who will be, or who should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. One of the highlights of his baseball enthusiasm, was going to Cooperstown, NY to the Hall of Fame. He spoke of that experience often and even referred to it as “heaven on earth”.
Dusty loved to read, and he nearly always read 4 genres of books at a time. During the last 6 months, he ordered and began reading 8 different Bibles with commentaries by some of his favorite, as he called them, “old dead guys”. One of the most beneficial legacies that Dusty has left behind is his website ConcerningTheWay.com, which contains the series of Bible studies he began writing when he went into remission following his first cancer.
As we mourn the loss of our treasured friend and brother, let us remember how blessed we are that we were gifted the grace to have him be part of our lives.
Dusty Rhodes is by far the finest person I have ever known in my life. He was my best friend. He protected me, loved me, challenged me, taught me, and supported me. I am who God called me to be because of Dusty. I am forever grateful. I love him forever.
