Jack Rhodehamel

Jack L. Rhodehamel, 79 of 254 Holmes Drive, died September 2, 2013 at Golden Age Nursing Home. Born February 4, 1934, in Troy, Ohio, he was the son of the late Leroy and Leora (Dull) Corwin Rhodehamel. A resident of Spartanburg since 1959, he located to South Carolina in 1951 to attend Bob Jones University where he completed his last two years of high school and graduated from the University in 1957 with a B.A. degree in Christian Education and minored in Art. Further education has included numerous workshops, training institutes, and seminars. A licensed preacher and chalk artist, he was a member of the Salvation Army Church where he was a senior adult Sunday School teacher and a corps/sergeant-major (led all adult meetings). He also sang in the church choir at Mount Zion Baptist Church in the evenings and did weekend volunteer work in The Christian Service Men center in Columbia, SC, for one year. He received the 1972 Young Peoples Sergeant-Major Award for the Year in the Carolinas Division. A past Brotherhood member of the OA Skyuka Lodge 270, he served forty years in scouting as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Sea Scout, and was a Patrol Leader at the National Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA, in 1950, an Assistant Scoutmaster for fifteen years, a Scoutmaster for six years, and a Cub Master for one year. He took the National Wood Badge in 1967 and was a holder of three beads. He was the receiver of the Scouter's Award, Key Award, and Belt Award. He was a leader in taking 33 boys to the Philemon Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 1965, received The Palmetto Award in 1967, and was also a committee chairman. A member of the Breakfast Optimist Club with forty-two years of perfect attendance, he served as past president, state youth chairman, and Sergeant of Arms and Chairman of respect for the Law Committee. He worked for four and a half years in the Greenville, SC Salvation Army Boys Club where he served as volunteer Craft and Worship Director for one year, program director for one year, assistant director for two years, assistant camp director and life guard for two summers on the Boys Camp staff. Jack also worked with the Spartanburg Salvation Army Community Center at 160 Williams Street for 36 years, having served as the Executive Director since 1959, at which time the Center was known as the Red Shield Center. The Center began with sixty-five members on a "shoe -string" budget in a home remodeled by The Spartanburg County Foundation. With a great deal of hard work and a passionate dedication to the young people of Spartanburg, Jack built the program into one which has been widely recognized for its impact on young lives. In 1975 under his leadership, membership increased to over 1,200 with an average of 232 per day. Jack was employed with the Salvation Army for over 50 years. He was a past member of the SC Recreation and Park Society and attended the 18th annual conferences in 1963. He was a speaker at many workshops/sessions at the Salvation Army biennial conferences, the Vincent Brosky & Associates "Grant Proposals" workshop, the certificate of achievement in recognition of successful completion of workshop in Charlotte, NC, social services seminar-NC/SC division, Columbia, SC, in 1991 "Grants & Contracts" - location, accessing and procedures-part II, USA Southern Territory fund raising conference in Atlanta, GA, and speaker at the "Funding the Future with Innovation and Integrity". He also attended the Kids Caucus Workshop in Columbia, SC in 1992, was chairman of Crime Prevention Week, a past secretary, and served on the steering committee of NC and SC Salvation Army Executive Director's Group. Despite the long hours required by his position, his service to the community was not only limited to the Community Center. He was a past member of the Spartanburg County ARC (SC School for the Deaf and Blind), the Mayors Crime Prevention and Public Safety Council, the Council on Aging, the Juvenile Justice Task Force, Cities in Schools, Spartanburg Citizens for Decency, Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Spartanburg Association of Community Education, and was past president of the City-County Youth Baseball League of Spartanburg. Other community activities include his work with the United Way Campaign, including Speakers Bureau in 1974-1978 and 1991, Projection Committee in 1973, Horizontal Review Committee in 1992, campaign tour driver, and many study committees of The United Way from 1975-1981. He also served on the Spartanburg Council on Aging on the board of director's committee from 1974-1977 and on the Public Safety Committee. Although not a man who seeks accolades, he has nonetheless been recognized for excellence on several occasions. Among his accomplishments are: In 1967 he received the Salvation Army Scouting Award for NC/SC. In 1972 he received the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Award and Key Award, the TSA Scouting Award for NC/SC, and TSA Young People's Sergeant Major of the Year Award for NC/SC. He received in 1989 the Pete Smith Award for Civic and Community Service, in 1990 the TSA Territorial Distinguished Service Award, in 1994 the TSA Territorial "A Great Friend to Youth" Award. The Salvation Army General William Booth Award which is the Highest award in the history of the Salvation Army for Dedication and Loyal Years of Service, in 1995 the Spartanburg Mayor James Talley's Proclamation of "the Appreciation of Jack Rhodehamel Day", and in 1998 The United Way Helping Hands Award. In 1998 a street was named in his honor. In 2002 a Friend of Youth Statue was presented to him by the Optimist Club, and he received the trophy of Grace "Recognition of Exemplary Service" by The Southern Territory of TSA. He received in 2003 the Optimist-Committee Chairperson "Respect for Law", and in 2004 the Optimist of the Year plaque. Even in semi-retirement, Jack's service to the community continues through his work with the Salvation Army's senior citizen outreach program, and his involvement as person in charge of The Red Kettle project since 1995. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Martha Routzong Rhodehamel; a daughter, Sherry R. Gardner of Spartanburg; a son, Steven Rhodehamel of Spartanburg and five grandchildren, Mark Boatman, Arrin Matthews, Jessica, Justin, and Jeana Rhodehamel, two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Sebastian Boatman. Pallbearers are: Travis Bishop, Mark Boatman, Felix Bulsa, Brent Gardner, Arrin Matthews, Eddie Phelps, Eddie Porter, Chris Wyatt, and honorary pallbearers The Breakfast Optimist Club. Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 PM Thursday, September 5, 2013, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Friday, September 6, 2013, at The Salvation Army, 40 Foster St., Spartanburg, SC 29301, by Capt. Donald Marvel. Burial will be in Fort Prince Memorial Gardens, 125 Fort Prince Road, Wellford, SC 29385. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army Community Center, PO Box 2909, Spartanburg, SC 29304. The family would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all the many people who have been a part of Jack's life and have supported him in all his many accomplishments. We especially would like to thank you for the many prayers that have been given in support of Jack through his years of work and dedication to the community. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jack Lee Rhodehamel please visit our Sympathy Store.