ESTHER RHODEN

LIBERAL-A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar for Esther M. Rhoden, 94, Liberal, who died Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at Joplin Health and Rehabilitation Center following a long illness. Burial will be at Liberal Cemetery.

Visitation will be held prior to the service time, beginning at 12 noon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Church of Liberal.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include two daughters, Lawanna Arthur, Carthage and Janean Floyd, Joplin; a daughter-in-law, Pam Rhoden, Springfield; six grandchildren, Darren Rhoden and wife Emily, Deanna Rhoden, Brian Arthur, Elizabeth Hartman and husband Eric, B.J. Floyd and wife Dalia and Jillian Jones and husband Nathan and six great-grandchildren, Coco, Brady, Delaney, Eliza, Eero and Emberly. Two more great-grandchildren will be welcomed into the family in September.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bart in 1977; a son, Dwayne Mack Rhoden and two brothers, Lester and Houston Cummins.

Mrs. Rhoden was born April 14, 1922, in Stark City, to Henry and Lottie (Carpenter) Cummins. She was a graduate of Liberal High School. While working as an aide at the Garrison Street Hospital in Carthage, she met Bartow Rhoden, a young soldier stationed at Camp Crowder and on April 18, 1944, in Kansas City, Mo., they were married. In addition to being a devoted wife, mother and homemaker, she had worked at the Key Overall Factory for several years and was a physical therapy assistant at Nevada State Hospital for 16 years. She had been a member of Hannon Freewill Baptist Church and the Christian Church of Liberal.