Baxter Eli Rhodes Jr.

Darlington, South Carolina Baxter Eli Rhodes Jr., 86, of Darlington passed away Sunday, September 4, 2022. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 3 PM in the Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home Chapel. Afterwards, a burial will take place at Grove Hill Cemetery, Darlington, SC. The Rhodes family will receive friends from 2 PM to 3 PM on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at the funeral home. Baxter, the son of the late Baxter Eli Rhodes and Myrtle Estelle (Taylor) Rhodes was born in Darlington, South Carolina and grew up on the family farm in the Oates community of Darlington. He joined the Air Force in May of 57 where he served proudly until his honorable discharge in September of 61. While stationed in West Berlin Germany, he met his wife, Brigitte of 60 years. Upon his release from service Baxter and Brigitte returned stateside where he went to work for Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville, SC. After 39 years of loyal service he retired. While at Sonoco, Baxter worked as a Master Electrician in the Electric Shop and was ASE Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling certified. He was also a member of Sonoco’s Old Timers club. Additionally, he earned his Associate Degree in Marketing from Florence Darlington Technical College. During his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, repairing AC units in his shop and he especially enjoyed traveling whether it was a weekend getaway to Myrtle Beach, a cruise or a European trip. Baxter and his wife travelled extensively and attended Lake Swamp Baptist Church in Timmonsville, SC. Surviving are his wife Brigitte of Darlington; his son Bax of Yorktown, VA; his daughters Carolyne Wiley and her husband, Ray of Lewisburg West Virginia and Susan Kirkland and husband, Jay of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; his grandchildren, Jessica Irons and her husband, Oliver, Jarrod Wiley and Shannon Kirkland; and his great grandchildren, Rhodes Irons and Wiley Irons; two sisters; Sue Stewart and Jean Crowley of Hartsville, SC. Baxter was preceded in death by his brother Jimmy Rhodes and his sisters Jacqueline (Bootsie) Brown and Louise Jones. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601-7633. The Directors of Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home are honored to be serving the Rhodes family. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at www.kistlerhardeefuneralhome.com

Baxter Eli Rhodes Jr.

March 8, 1936 - September 4, 2022