Obituary of Richard S. Rhodes

Richard Sanders Rhodes II, “Sandy”, 58 died November 28, 2005 following a 5-month battle with lung cancer. Born March 1, 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Richard and Eudoxia Rhodes, he was raised in Springfield, Missouri by his paternal grandmother Stella Sanders Rhodes until her death. In his early teens he moved to Grosse Pointe, Michigan to live with his aunt Warrena L Rhodes. In 1969 he received an undergraduate degree in Geology from the University of Michigan. After moving to Iowa City in 1972 he completed his Doctorate in Geology in 1982 at the University of Iowa. During his work on his doctoral dissertation in Quaternary paleoenvironmental studies in the Loess Hills of southwestern Iowa he discovered fossil remains of the "beautiful armadillo", Dasypus bellus, notable because it extended the range of this extinct species. He continued his work as an adjunct Assistant Professor of Geoscience at the University of Iowa from 1983 to 2003. His contributions in protecting the natural habitats of Iowa were recognized both locally and regionally. In 1996 Sandy recognized the unique plant community in SE Iowa that has become known as Swamp White Oak Preserve. He was instrumental in protecting this property which has been designated a globally threatened rare plant community by The Nature Conservancy and was the anchor property for the Lower Cedar landscape scale project area. Sandy was also responsible for identifying and protecting several populations of ornate box turtles in Iowa. More recently Sandy devoted most of his time and energy to his own 640-acre prairie restoration project, Indiangrass Hills, which he donated to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation just prior to his death. Preceded in death by his parents, grandmother, and aunt, Sandy was the last member of his family. Beth Durrenberger Hudspeth, a close friend of 32 years, her husband, Philip, and Judy Felder were as family. Sandy is also survived by several close friends. On Sunday, December 4th from 5-8 pm there will be a gathering of Sandy’s friends at the home of Ellen and Art Hartz, 385 Koser Avenue, Iowa City. Appreciation and gratitude are extended to the caring staff and volunteers of the Iowa City Hospice for their support. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Indiangrass Hills Fund, c/o Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505 5th Ave, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309-2321 or online at inhf.org. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is assisting Sandy’s friends with his arrangements.