Darrel D. Rhea

September 1, 1928 - January 9, 2016

Darrel D. Rhea, 87, of Medicine Lodge, KS, died Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital, Medicine Lodge, KS. He was born on September 1, 1928 in Sawyer, KS, the son of John M. Rhea and Rena L. (Carter) Rhea. On May 24, 1953, he married Mary Bonita (Blackwell) Rhea in Medicine Lodge, KS. She preceded him in death on July 22, 2015. Darrel was the former Office Manager at National Gypsum for over 30 years. After retirement, he was the Executive Director of the Medicine Lodge Housing Authority for eight years. Darrel was baptized in April of 1944 in the Isabel United Methodist Church. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Medicine Lodge, KS. Darrel also served in the Shriners, the Masonic Lodge of the Wichita Consistory, the American Legion, and a life member of the VFW. He was a Merchant Marine veteran of World War II and a US Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. Surviving are one son, Terry (Debra) Rhea of Wichita, KS; two daughters, Jean (Nicola) Rhea of Sonoma, CA and Teresa (Donald) Poindexter of Medicine Lodge, KS; Five grandchildren, Jared (Lily) Rhea, Andrew (Kate) Rhea, Janiza (Brandon) Poland, Jennifer (Chad) Gallaway, & Jacob (Krystal) Poindexter; Ten great-grandchildren, Atigun Rhea, Bailea Poland, Faith Poland, Regan Poland, Zebediah Poland, Quinn Poland, Collin Gallaway, Alyssa Gallaway, Clarice Poindexter, & Eli Darrel Poindexter and two-on-the-way; Several nieces & nephews. Darrel was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and seven siblings, Reva Schaeffer, Alberta Vermillion, Lynn Rhea, Margaret Ewy, Virginia Welch, Helen Gobin, and Ronald Rhea. Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Medicine Lodge, KS with Pastor Tom Walters and Pastor Paul Stephens officiating. Memorials may be made to the Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital Long Term Care Unit or the United Methodist Church, Medicine Lodge, KS in care of Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, Kansas 67104. Condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com.