Wayland Dusty Rhodes

Raleigh - Wayland Dusty Rhodes, 78, of Raleigh passed away on March 4, 2014 from complications associated with lung cancer. A proud native of Raleigh and supporter of all things North Carolinian, he was the ultimate southern gentleman. Loyal and kind, he loved woodworking, watching his beloved North Carolina Tarheels, telling stories and simply puttering around. He was also a master at finding the most indirect route between two points because he believed the journey was just as important as the destination. Not surprisingly, he also had a special place in his heart for all four-legged creatures. He graduated from Needham Broughton High School and Atlantic Christian College in Wilson. He was a pharmaceutical sales rep for Schering-Plough for over thirty years and retired when it became more about the reports than the relationships. Shortly after retirement, he became Assistant Sergeant at Arms at the North Carolina House of Representatives. It was the perfect place to swap stories and support his beloved North Carolina. A believer in leaving things better than you found them, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Church of the Good Shepherd, the Ole Raleigh Boys Club and past member of the Raleigh Host Lions Club. He is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Rhodes Pope of Dallas, TX and her husband Bryan, former wife, Barbara Rhodes of Mt. Juliet, TN, his loving companion, Anne Misenheimer of Raleigh, and numerous cousins who were like siblings to him, including Charles Rhodes of Decatur, TX, Teresa Rosenberger of Concord, NH, and Chuck Rhodes of Morehead City, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayland Judd Rhodes and Minnie Herring Rhodes, and his loving companion, Lee Goldston. The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Morningside of Raleigh for all of their love, compassion and care. A special thanks goes to Tom and Lisa Williams who took the notion of being neighborly to a whole new level. A visitation will be held on Friday from 5 until 7 PM at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, and a graveside service will be held on Saturday at 11 AM at Montlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to American Cancer Society, the NC Humane Society, or your local no kill animal shelter in his name. If you are a smoker, please consider giving up your cigarettes in his honor.