Betty 'Jane' (Armstrong) Rhoades

Betty Jane Rhoades, of Odon, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, February 3, 3022, just shy of her 96th birthday. The daughter of Clyde Douglas and Lola (Thomas) Armstrong, she is survived by her husband of seventy years, Robert ‘Dusty’ Rhoades. Both were born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and have known each other since grade school. Jane and Bob were married on February 14, 1952, when Bob was home on leave from the Navy.

For 15 years, Bob and Jane traveled all over the world: Long Beach, California; Key West, Florida; Port Lyautey, Morocco; Charleston, South Carolina; West Malling, Kent, England; and finally Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Waukegan, Illinois until he retired from the Navy. In 1967, they moved to Odon when their friend, Jim Ramsey, suggested they come to work at Crane. They had met Jim when they were stationed in Morocco and had kept in touch over the years.

Jane and Bob lived, worked, and raised their family in Odon for the next 55 years. They are members of the Odon United Methodist Church, where she was awarded ‘Mother of the Year’ in 2011. After they both retired in 1987, they continued their travels with a big trip to Alaska, many camping weekends with Sam’s Club members, and motorcycle rides with friends. Later years were spent watching birds and enjoying flowers outside her big window in the house they had built in 1969.

Family left to cherish the memory of Jane include: her husband, Robert ‘Dusty’ Rhoades; one daughter, Debra Jane Rhoades of Greenwood; one son, Robert Douglas (Gretchen) Rhoades of Terre Haute; grandchildren, Dusty (Kailey) Rhoades and Christina (Billy) McKeehan and six great-grandchildren.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Dorothy Hodges.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at Meng Family Funeral Home in Odon with Pastor Debbie Payne officiating. Jane will be laid to rest in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Odon.

Family and friends may call from 1:00 PM until the time of service at 3:00 PM on Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Odon United Methodist Church, 602 E. Elnora St., Odon, IN 47562 or a favorite charity of your choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Arrangements and care have been entrusted to Meng Family Funeral Home in Odon. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.mengfuneralhome.com.