Funeral service for former Cache resident, Robert James Rhoads, age 60, of Norman, Oklahoma will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 18, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church, 301 "C" Avenue, Cache, Oklahoma with Rev. Les Banks and Rev. Royce Littrell officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lawton, Oklahoma under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home of Frederick. Robert passed from this life on November 13, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma.

Robert James Rhoads was born August 21, 1959, in Lawton, Oklahoma to Clarence Edwin and Joyce Marie (Ash) Rhoads. Robert attended elementary school in Lawton until the 5th grade.  His family then moved to the Cache School district, where Robert attended elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. He graduated from Cache High School as Salutatorian of the Class of 1977 and was a member of the National Honor Society in both junior high and senior high school. Robert excelled at many different talents, he was a scholar; he was an athlete, starting on the junior high and senior high school football teams and walking on during spring football drills at Cameron University; and he was a musician, he played the trombone in the high school band.

Robert attended Cameron University and The University of Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Oklahoma and finished all his courses for his Master's Degree at OU. During his college career he worked jobs at the Taliaferro Community Mental Health Center in Lawton and the Central Oklahoma Mental Health Center in Norman.

Upon graduation he used his degree and love for sports to work in the Athletic Governance and Regulatory field. He held several positions for the NAIA, (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) in Tulsa and Kansas City.  He served as an intern in 1988-89 for the Legislative and Championship department, from 1989 through 1995 he was the assistant vice-president of Legislative Affairs.  And, from 1995 through 2001 he was the Director of Legislative Affairs.

Robert was temporarily assigned to the Olympic Committee in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 2001, he moved to the NCAA in Indianapolis as the Assistant Director of Member services, a position he worked at until 2003. He left the NCAA in 2004, but remained in Indianapolis working for the Greater Indianapolis YMCA and Safeco FIS.

Upon returning to Oklahoma in 2008, he decided to take a position with KBR, Inc.  This led him to Iraq, he worked as Coordinator for the U.S. Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Centers in Kirkuk Iraq.

After returning from Iraq he worked for Norman Public Schools Alternative Education for seven years. First as Coordinator and Counselor for Dimensions Academy Evening Program and then as manager of the online component, NormanNet.  He is remembered fondly by many students who were guided by his vast wisdom and sharp wit and by several friends and colleagues.  He was an avid Jimmy Buffett fan and loved going concerts of all kinds.

He is survived by one sister, Jacki Cude of Lawton, Oklahoma; two aunts , Shirley Slack of Norman, Oklahoma and Inola Ash of Cache, Oklahoma; six nieces and nephews, Kristen "Kricket" Rhoads Connywerdy, Shelby Williams, Natalie Rhoads Zolad, Jessica Rockwell, Danny Ray Wilson, and Ryland Rhoads ; three grand nieces, Angleyn Connywerdy, Piperlily Bougie and Willow Bougie; six grand nephews, Garrett Williams, Carter Williams, Grant Williams, Sokobi Connywerdy, Thaumaroi Connywerdy, and Zyn Zolad; as well as host of cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Joyce Rhoads; and two brothers, Roger Rhoads and Kenneth Rhoads.