Gene Rhoads

Herman Eugene (Gene) Rhoads, age 94 of Tahlequah, passed away on June 21, 2025 at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa. After attending Cameron Junior College for two years in Lawton, Gene began studying at Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To avoid being drafted, he and three other Randlett High School graduates decided to join the Air Force. Before leaving College, he proposed to Maxine Jackson of Cold Springs, Oklahoma, whom he was dating at the time. She turned him down, so that she could finish her degree in Home Economics. Gene was stationed at Enid AFB for training. He chose to be an Aircraft Mechanic as his Air Force Specialty Code. After several months of not being placed at a base, he took a test to become a pilot, passed, and changed his specialty.

Gene was born on August 14, 1930, in Randlett, Oklahoma to Herman and Mary Rhoads. He reconnected with Maxine Jackson while in Enid, and they married on Christmas Eve 1952. They raised three daughters amidst the many moves from base to base that his career demanded. He rose from Pilot to Senior Pilot, to Command Pilot during his tours on Air Force bases in Japan, Florida, Georgia, Germany, Missouri, Oklahoma, Bermuda, California, back to Oklahoma, Korea, then Arkansas. Gene also performed duties as the Base Supply Officer in addition to his responsibilities as a pilot. He earned an MBA from the University of Nebraska and became the 314th Services Squadron Commander at the last three bases on which he served. He flew more than 3500 hours while managing billeting, food services, entertainment outlets, the base exchange and all other service-related entities on each base.

Upon retiring from the Air Force after 28 years of service, he taught in the Business Department at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma for three years. He acquired his Real Estate License, joined Wright Real Estate, obtained his Broker's License, and managed the real estate offices. After about eight years, he and Maxine then moved to Tulsa to be closer to their grandchildren. He continued his work in real estate. After residing in Tulsa for 15 years, Gene and Maxine moved back to Tahlequah in the Go Ye Village Retirement Community. He rejoined Wright Real Estate for several years. Gene gave up his broker's license at 81 and kept up his passion for gardening until he turned 92.

Gene is survived by his wife, Maxine, of 73 years; three daughters, and two sons-in-law, Janice and Elzie Smith, Kathy Rhoads, Linda and Mike Richardson; one brother, Jerry Rhoads (Marie); four sisters, Lucille Ellis, Zeta Lea Kimberling, Karry Harrison (Bill), JoAnn McGarry; Grandchildren Cory Smith (Courtni), Stephen Groves, Sarah Nunnally (Jarod), Seth Richardson (Mandy), and Zackary Groves (Raven); and five great-grandchildren.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Mary Rhoads, and one brother, Clifford (Bud) Rhoads.

Funeral Service will be 1 PM, Saturday, June 28,2025 at Hart Funeral Home, burial to follow with military honors at Tahlequah City Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 27, 2025, at Hart Funeral Home from 4 PM until 6 PM.