Cecil Verlin Rhodes, a lifelong resident of Shelby County passed away on Thursday January 22, 2026, at Major Hospital in Shelbyville with his family by his side.
Cecil was born in Rush County on April 28, 1937, to the late Earl Austin Rhoades and Cora Belle (Warfield) Rhoades.
Cecil was a 1956 graduate of Shelbyville High School. On October 11, 1957, he married Janet Alice Skillman, who preceded him in death. Cecil devoted many years of service to Western Electric in Indianapolis, working in mold- making for telephones. Following the plant's closure, he and Janet spent several years in Nashville, Tennessee, before returning to Indianapolis, where Cecil retired from Western Electric on Franklin Road.
Cecil is survived by daughters Christina A. Bullard (Jim) of Shelbyville, Indiana, and Susan B. Kent (Jerry) of LaBelle, Florida. Grandchildren Jeremy Bullard (Rhonda), Chelsey Smothers (Matt Branson) both of Shelbyville, Kyle Kanouse (Emily Smith) of Hollywood, Florida, and Tiffany Haggard (Jeff) of Greenwood, Indiana. He is also survived by 7 great grandchildren, Olivia Bullard, Nolyn Smothers, Addysenn Smothers, Mavrik Branson, Hailie Haggard, Madisyn Haggard & Jaxson Haggard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers George Rhoades (Dorothie), Kenneth Rhoades (Emily), Waldo Rhoades, and sisters Marjorie Moore (Wilbur), Buella Gahimer (Haskell)
Cecil loved spending time with his family & friends, he and Janet spent many winters in Punta Gorda Florida as snowbirds. He umpired high school baseball for many years and played baseball in a league for Montgomery Brothers playing the position of catcher. Cecil bowled in leagues in both Indiana and Florida, he loved playing golf, shuffleboard and calling & playing bingo. He was an avid sports fan for both college and professional sports. Cecil not only was a sports fan but also enjoyed watching the Game-Show channel, and The Lone Ranger He enjoyed going to the Indy 500 for many years. But his all-time favorite was watching & rooting on Indiana IU basketball.
Services will be held at 11AM on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Glenn George Funeral Home in Shelbyville, Pastor Merry Popplewell will preside. Friends are welcome to visit from 4-7PM, Friday, February 6, 2024, at the mortuary. The burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, IN.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting memorial contributions be made in Cecil's name to Mountain Mission School, 1760 Edgewater Dr., Grundy, VA 24614 in memory of Cecil.
Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
