Barbara passed away in Austin, Texas the evening of June 16 th , 2022, very peacefully walking into the Lords open arms. She was born on April 24, 1935, to Walter Herbert and Gladys Adelia Merchant in Weinert, Texas.
Barbara graduated Haskell high school in 1953 and followed that with a business degree from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Barbara married her high school sweetheart Roy Don Rhoads in July of 1955 in Haskell, Texas. They were married for 52 years. Barbara and Roy Don had four children, Adelia, Renae, Dean Erin, and Terry Don. Roy Don passed away January 23, 2008. She married again in November 2011 to Elmer Kuntz who passed away in February of 2017.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Donny Bob Merchant and Walter Merchant, her husbands Roy Don Rhoads and Elmer Kuntz, her son Dean Erin Rhoads, and grandson Jarrod Heath Blunk.
Barbara initially worked as an accountant for Humble Oil Company and was a bookkeeper for several companies over the years. After marrying Roy Don, they shared a life of ministry including chaperoning many youth trips, missionary trips to El Salvador South America and Budapest Hungary. Barbara volunteered during the summers at both Glorieta Baptist Camp in New Mexico and Falls Creek Baptist Assembly in Oklahoma. She was an excellent musician, played both the piano and organ, taught Sunday school classes, and lead the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU). Barbara was a very talented artist and loved to paint, she was an avid seamstress making her kids clothes, Barbie outfits, and lots of costumes for plays and holidays. She loved to play board games and cards and was absolutely the most delightful family Scrabble champion. Barbara was witty and had a great sense of humor. She shared a lot of love and laughter with her loved ones, friends, and everyone she happened to meet. She was kind, gentle, gracious, always a princess, and ever dressed to the nines. Her friends and family will remember her with the largest most colorful earrings ever imaginable, and a smile the size of Texas that she was always willing to share. Barbara had a reputation of being a prankster, getting into more trouble chaperoning youth trips with the church than the youth did. She was always the life of the party, keeping everyone on their toes and in stitches.
Barbara is survived by her daughters Adelia Rhoads White and husband Terry, Renae Rhoads Seely and partner Pamela England, son Terry Don Rhoads and wife Leslie, daughter in law Pamella Niell, grandchildren Justin and wife Kristin Blunk, Lani Renee Heatly, Canaan Rhoads, Corban Rhoads and wife Abigail, Branston Rhoads-Niell, Arthur Jerome (AJ) Seely III and wife Molly, Josh Falco, and great grandchildren Trystin, Jordin, Ryan, Nadia, Gavin, Braxton, Parker, Izzy, and Hayden, Sister-in-Law Sue Blankenship and husband Dr. Wayne Blankenship, and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
We know that Barbara is dancing with the Lord playing beautiful music and rejoicing with those who preceded her through those pearly gates. She will be dearly missed and in our hearts forever.
A graveside service will be planned later this year in Chickasha, Oklahoma where she will be laid to rest beside her husband Roy Don Rhoads.
A special thank you to the management and staff at Brookdale Assisted Living and the Memory Care unit for helping us care for Barbara over the past four years here in Austin.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Alzheimer’s Association so they can continue their important work in providing care, support, and medical research for Dementia and Alzheimer’s prevention and cure.