OAKLAND – Herbert Ervin Rhoda, beloved father, and faithful farmer, passed away Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in his favorite chair at his home in Oakland.

Herb was born in 1942 to parents Ervin and Inez (Turney) Rhoda and grew up in Cornville. At the age of ten, he moved to Hodgdon, where he lived and tilled the earth until 1993.

Herb attended Hodgdon High School and graduated in 1960 a foul-shooter to be reckoned with. He traded witty remarks with a beautiful senior waiting for her bus on his way to an alumni basketball practice one day, and three years later on August 7th, 1965, they were married. Following his graduation from Hodgdon, Herb attended the University of Maine at Orono to study soil conservation and became a potato farmer and woods contractor for Great Northern Paper Company for 30 plus years.

Herb was a devoted farmer and doting husband. He took great pride in his family, especially his grandchildren, and in his meticulously straight potato rows. The ultimate storyteller, he was well known in the County, not only for his hardworking reputation but because he was someone who had time for everyone. Herb didn’t leave the house without a toothpick in his mouth and a joke in his pocket. He could diffuse any situation with his wit and a grin. Not even a trip to the store was mundane because if Herb couldn’t find an old friend to talk to, he always made a new one.

After moving to the Waterville area in 1993, Herb worked at Sappi until he retired. If you knew Herb, you know “retired” was a term used loosely for a man who always had a project in mind. If he wasn’t tinkering with a grandchild in his garage or garden, you could find him volunteering for RSU 18’s WATCH D.O.G.S. Program or driving the sports team buses for Thomas College. Everyone gravitated towards Herb, whether they were 3rd grade elementary students or 3rd year college students and beyond.

Herb loved the Lord and was well acquainted with the ground and dust he was made of. He loved the old hymns, especially “In The Garden,” and loved to watch his grandchildren sing in church. He modeled how close we can be to God by sticking our hands in the dirt and fostering creation.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Pamela (Wilson) Rhoda; his two sons, Chris and wife Andrea Rhoda, Craig and wife Brandie Rhoda; his grandchildren, Haven, Sierra and husband Jasper, Amelia, Emma, and Andrew; his brother, Jim Rhoda and wife Becky, sister Ruth (Rhoda) Clark and husband Brian, sister-in-law Sandra Rhoda; and his extended family. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother John Rhoda.

A celebration of life will be held within the Youth Center at the Faith Evangelical Free Church, 250 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901, on Feb. 5 from 2 – 4 p.m.

Arrangements are in the care of the Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St. Oakland, where condolences may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

the family requests donations be made to:

Awaken City Church

PO Box 300340

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

where their granddaughter serves and of which they faithfully attended online every Sunday