Charles Edward Rhodes
Charles Edward Rhodes, M.D., 71, of Phoenix, AZ, died unexpectedly March 8, 2018 at home. Known to his family as “Chuck”, he was born June 22, 1946 in Charleston, WV, to the late Mary Tipton Ross Rhodes and Arthur Winfred Rhodes. A member of the Darien High School class of 1964, he graduated from The Johns Hopkins University (1968) and received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1972. Chuck Rhodes’ life was defined by a clear moral vision and a deep desire to give to others rather than be given to, rejecting comfort and luxury in favor of an unrelenting drive to serve those around him. Dr. Rhodes applied his considerable intellect and insatiable curiosity to the field of endocrinology with particular interest in Native American health. Over his 41year medical career, he served in the Indian Health Service within the US Dept. of Health and Human Services in Fort Hall, ID and Gallup, NM and as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University before returning to Darien, CT and managing a private practice in general endocrinology in Norwalk for eighteen years. In 1999, he rejoined the Indian Health Service as a Diabetes Consultant in the Phoenix area with responsibilities covering Arizona, Utah and Nevada until his retirement in 2013. In all areas of life, he was known for thoroughness and attention to detail. He was a dedicated teacher, and his compassionate attention to each of his patients and determination to improve their quality of life earned him a reputation for running late with appointments. He tackled his many home improvement projects with similar precision and a level of quality unmatched by many professionals. His love of the outdoors drew him to activities such as backpacking and canoeing, but he was never happier than when he was kneedeep in a landscaping project with a shovel in one hand and level in the other. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Linda Ann Weider Rhodes of Phoenix, sons Scott Adrian Rhodes of North Andover, MA and Perry Joel Rhodes of Bend, OR, five grandchildren and three siblings: Mary Tipton Rhodes Grunwald of Berlin, Germany, Lillian Louise Rhodes of Hebron, CT, and Ross Alan Rhodes of Canton, OH. Dr. Rhodes was preceded in death by his older brother Arthur Winfred Rhodes Jr. in 1949 and his daughter, Nicole Alicia Rhodes in 1993.