October 5, 1945 ~ March 1, 2026
Jimmie Rhoades, 80 year old Woodward resident, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Oklahoma City. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026 in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel. The family will greet friends prior to the service from 10:15 a.m. until service time. The United States Army will provide military rites.
Jimmie Dale Rhoades was born on October 5, 1945, in Holdenville, OK, to Thomas H. "Pokey" and Martha Shupert Rhoades and passed from this life on March 1, 2026 in Oklahoma City, OK with his wife, Joyce, by his side. When Jimmie was very young, his family moved from Holdenville, OK to Dumas, TX where he was raised at the Natural Gas Pipeline of America (NGPL) plant east of town. Jimmie and his three brothers often hitchhiked to town for school and sporting events. Jimmie enjoyed basketball and was a part of the Dumas Demon basketball team.
After high school, Jimmie enlisted in the United States Army and served in Germany as a light vehicle mechanic. Jimmie loved the USA and his time in the Army and was a life-long patriot. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Jimmie returned to Dumas where he was employed at NGPL. Jimmie's first assignment was at a gas plant in Herscher, IL. While working in Illinois, Jimmie met Joyce McConnell, a local farmer's daughter, and they soon began courting and were married in Dwight, IL on August 31, 1969.
In 1971, Jimmie and Joyce welcomed their first son, Thomas "Tommie". In 1972, Jimmie relocated to Perryton, TX with the gas company and served as a natural gas measurement technician monitoring hundreds of wells in the area. Jimmie took an interest in law enforcement in the early 1970's and left his job at NGPL to serve as a deputy sheriff. Jimmie served two years as a deputy sheriff and was appointed to serve as the sheriff of Ochiltree County, TX. On September 10, 1977, while still in Perryton, TX, Jimmie and Joyce welcomed their second son, Travis. In 1980, Jimmie left the sheriff's office and relocated the family to Fairview, OK, where he was once again employed in the natural gas industry by Delhi Gas Pipeline Corporation. Jimmie later worked as a correctional security officer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections at the William S. Key Correctional Center in Ft. Supply, OK before retiring.
Jimmie and Joyce enjoyed their years of retirement by delivering meals on wheels and spending time with their border collies, taking periodic trips to area casinos, striper fishing at Lake Texoma and walleye fishing at Canton Lake, camping, and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Jimmie was an avid Dallas Cowboy football fan and rarely missed a game, even in the bad years. Jimmie and Joyce were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Woodward, OK until its closing in 2025. Jimmie professed his faith in the Lord and was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Woodward, OK.
Jimmie was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas H. and Martha Rhoades, three brothers, George "Wayne", Johnny, and Harlen "Sandy", and his mother and father-in-law, Alan and Caroline McConnell.
Jimmie is survived by his wife Joyce of 56 years, sons Tommie (Angela) Stillwater, OK, Travis (Sara) Yukon, OK, along with three grandchildren, Damian, Rhett, and Adley, several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to WOOF Pet Rescue with the funeral home accepting the contributions on behalf of the family.