Linda Kay (McQueen) Rhodes, 81, died October 18, 2022, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born February 3, 1941, in Lewiston, ME, to Albert James and Lorene Eleanor (Shinall) Jenkins.
Linda’s father was in management with the J. C. Penney Co. He was transferred many times with the company. During Linda’s childhood, the family lived in Lewiston, ME, Rochester, NY, Burlington, VT, Danville, IL, Omaha, NE, Brookfield, MO, and Hutchinson. This is probably when Linda acquired the love of travel.
Linda graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1959. She attended Hutchinson Community College for one year, then married Edward (Eddie) McQueen in 1960. They had two sons, Jeffery Scott in 1961, and Michael Bryon in 1963. Linda, Ed, and the boys spent two years in Vinita, OK, from 1968-1970, where Ed was a Ben Franklin store manager/owner. The family then returned to Hutchinson, where they resided for the rest of Linda’s life.
In 1975, after the boys were older, Linda earned an associates degree from Hutchinson Community College. In 1978, she commuted to Sterling College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. From 1979 until 1982, Linda worked in the Basic Education Department at the Kansas State Industrial Reformatory. She then taught special education at Hutchinson High school, retiring in 1998.
Ed McQueen, her husband of 42 years, died suddenly in 2002. Linda spent the next several years traveling to Europe, South American and Israel. She participated in several short-term mission trips to Nagaland, India, The Dominican Republic, Peru, Chile, Mexico, and New York City.
In 2008, she married the Reverend Dr. Gordon Rhodes. Together, they traveled, enjoyed family and friends, and shared in eight interim pastorate ministries in churches throughout Kansas.
Linda is survived by: her husband, Gordon; sons, Jeff McQueen (Betsy) of Kansas City, MO, Mike McQueen (Terri) of Hutchinson; brother, Buzz Jenkins of McKinney, TX; and four delightful grandchildren, who filled her life with fun and love, Brett, Erin, Max, and Lillie.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 24, 2022, at First Baptist Church, 800 N. Main, Hutchinson, with Pastor Rishawn Austin officiating. Graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church or Compassion International, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.