Franklin Nathaniel Rhoad

Franklin Nathaniel Rhoad, 89, passed away on February 27, 2009 at the Coastal Carolina Medical Center.A long time Bluffton resident, he was born in Providence, SC on November 22, 1919 to the late Rev. Paul Kistler Rhoad and Marie Folk Rhoad. He graduated from Wofford College with a BA in Chemistry and from Vanderbilt University with a MS in metallurgy. He served as a weatherman in the US Army Air Force in the Pacific during World War II and retired as a Lt. Colonel from the USAF Reserve. He was employed for 30 years in the Mill Technical Division of Union Bag (Camp) Corporation in Savannah, GA. Upon his retirement in 1980, he enjoyed playing tennis, vegetable gardening, travel and listening to classical music. When his sons were growing up, he served as a boy Scout Master for both Bluffton and Savannah troops. He was a life long member of the Methodist Church and for many years sang tenor in the choirs of the Bluffton Methodist Church and Epworth Methodist Church in Savannah.He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Julia Ulmer Rhoad, one daughter, June (Ed) Salvesen of Bluffton; two sons, Franklin N. (Rusty) Rhoad, Jr. (Kate) of The Woodlands, TX and Timothy (Maria) Rhoad of Townsend, GA and three grandchildren, Travis, Saxon and Dakota. He is also survived by his sister, Edith (Clyde) Rhoad Boyd and several nieces and nephews.The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 3, at 11:00 am at the Bluffton Methodist Church, Bluffton, SC with burial to follow in the Bluffton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Bluffton Methodist Church, P.O. Box 368, Bluffton, SC 29910.Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, SC is assisting the family with their arrangements.