Obituary of Brian Rhodes

After a long illness, Brian H. Rhodes, age 57, of Erie, passed to eternal life on August 7, 2013 at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital in Erie, PA. Brian was the eldest child of Norene and the late Ralph Rhodes born in Erie on October 10, 1955. Brian was active in the Cascade United Methodist Church, Erie Boys Baseball, the Boy Scouts, and a 1973 graduate of Academy High School. Brian attended Penn State University earning a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Throughout his college years Brian worked at the Rhodes family business, Penn-Ohio Machinery. After college Brian worked in military defense related engineering projects in Ohio, Connecticut, and Arizona. Brian called Erie home and always came back to be with close family and friends. In Arizona, Brian was a Software Development Engineer with the Boeing Corporation. At Boeing, Brian was most proud of his long involvement with the development and operations of the weapons system to the famed US Army Loughow Apache Helicopter. Brian had a love of science and technology and was an avid reader. Brian is survived by a sister, Lisa Kita and husband Bob, of Colorado Springs, CO; a brother, Eric and wife Betsy Rhodes, of Erie, a niece, and four nephews: Emily (Kita) and husband Lt. James Kundert; children: James, Mary, and Rachael of Colorado Springs, Co, Joseph Kita of Denver, CO, Jason Rhodes wife, Nikki, and son, Malcolm, of Baltimore, MD; Brandon and Ryan Rhodes of Erie; Aunt Barbara McLaughlin, of Fairview, PA, cousin, Laurie Hitt and husband, Tom and their son, Owen, and cousins; Doug, Duane, and Dennis Ford. A memorial of Brian's life will be held at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. until time of prayer service at 2:00 p.m. Interment immediately following at Miller's Station Cemetery in Cambridge Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation, Landmarks Building, Suite 215, 100 West Station Square Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15219.