Obituary of Joseph E. Rhoads Jr.

Joseph Edward Rhoads Jr., age 85 of Aston, PA passed away on December, 26, 2020 at his daughter's home surrounded by his loving family. A resident of Aston for the past 16 years, Eddie was born and was a resident of Chester for many years. He served in the Marines and upon his discharge, became a lifelong Fireman. Eddie was employed by the City of Chester as a Fireman retiring in 1990. Devoted to the Chester Firehouse, he was an original Charter signing member for Local 1400. During those years, he worked part time for Hardware & Supply in Chester, PA. After his retirement, Eddie was a cook for his daughter's daycare business in Broomall, PA. Eddie was devoted to his family and was known as a historian and quite the storyteller. He enjoyed time spent with family and friends, trips abroad with his siblings, trips to Penn State to visit his grandchildren, their family cruise to the Caribbean, boating, and vacations at White Crystal Beach. He also enjoyed playing cards, visiting the casinos, going to bingo with his sisters, and watching the Golden Girls and Lawrence Welk. In addition to his mother, Helen Rhoads, and father and stepmother, Joseph and Charlotte Rhoads Sr., Eddie is preceded in death by his son, Joseph E. Rhoads III who died in 2019 and 3 siblings, Walter Lee Rhoads, Edwina Weidman and Catherine Rhoads. Eddie is survived by his wife of 58 years, Brenda Edmunds Rhoads, a daughter and her husband, Connie and Scott McElwee, 4 grandchildren, Holly McElwee, April (Brandon) Weider, Joseph Rhoads IV and Christopher Rhoads, 1 great grandson, Cooper Weider, 3 siblings, Charles E. (Jennie) Rhoads, Beatrice E. Pilgrim, and Doris W. Rhoads, and a sister-in-law, Peggy Rhoads. A visitation will be held on January 4, 2021, Monday evening, 7-9 PM at the Pagano Funeral Home and again on Tuesday morning, 10-11 AM at the Pagano Funeral Home, 3711 Foulk Rd., Garnet Valley, PA. A Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, 11am at the funeral home as well as livestreaming. Interment, Lawn Croft Cemetery, Linwood, PA. (due to the current pandemic, facemask will be required). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or American Heart Association (www.heart.org). To view the livestreaming services, please click this link precisely at 11am on Tuesday or visit the Pagano Funeral Home Facebook page.