Arvin Loye "Dusty" Rhodes

A. L. “Dusty” Rhodes of Abilene, TX passed away May 16, 2023 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Like his life, his generosity of spirit sanctified his last moments, showing us how to endure the most difficult situations with grace and dignity.

Born June 6, 1932, to Bill and Fannie Rhodes, Dusty was the second of six children growing up on a small farm in SE Oklahoma. The poverty the family experienced during the Great Depression meant that they all had to work together to survive, creating an unbreakable family bond. Yet, they always found a way to feed a hungry neighbor or a stranger in need. Generosity, hard work and family became the defining characteristics of his extraordinary life.

Dusty’s entrepreneurial spirit began as a youth selling popcorn to Saturday shoppers on the streets of Hugo, Oklahoma to help support his family. But times were hard, so at 14, he hitchhiked from Oklahoma to Coos Bay, OR, to work a summer in the lumber mills for a dollar an hour. As he described it, “I worked with grown men who made me work just as hard as they did.” He lived with an uncle, sleeping in a tiny 4' by 6' room and cooking his own meals over a wood burning stove, when it was available. Relentless in business, he never departed from the values forged in these early experiences.

At 17, Dusty graduated from Hugo High School, and began a journey that would take him far beyond the boundaries of his rural childhood. He traveled solo across the country, living out of his car and bathing in roadside streams. It was a great adventure that fueled a lifelong passion to meet new people and experience other cultures. “Because they existed,” he would later say, “I had to visit them.'' His curiosity and unique ability to connect with others was a defining feature of his personality. These attributes were essential to his success in the US Navy. Enlisting in 1951, he served during the Korean Conflict, and went on to support world-wide US intelligence missions throughout his life.

While receiving specialized training in Hawaii, he met and fell in love with a vivacious young woman named Nancy Fanson, who was traveling with her mother. They married in 1957, and Dusty graduated from Abilene Christian College with a BA later that year. He went on to earn a JD from The University of Texas School of Law in 1960. He practiced as an attorney in Abilene, TX for 37 years. Dusty never shied away from a tough case, seeking justice without fear or favor.  He tried a case in 250 of the 254 counties in Texas, falling short of the last four counties only because there were no cases to try. His last case was with his grandson as co-counsel.

During their years in Abilene, Dusty and Nancy raised four children and were active in the community and their church. Dusty won the heart of his mother-in-law because he was always bringing people to church. For him, he was sharing the best of life, and that spirit never wavered.  He served on numerous boards and was especially devoted to the West Texas Rehab Center and Hendrick Children's Home, leading a campaign to construct the A.L. “Dusty” Rhodes Family Care Complex. Following his retirement, Dusty returned to his agri-roots near Henrietta, TX, where he built The Lone Star Hereford brand, winning numerous awards, including 7 National Car Load Lots, 3 National Grand Champion bulls, and 5 National Grand Champion cows.

Dusty was devoted to his country and the values enshrined in the law. As he put it, “Almost all people have a desire for the right to practice religion, the right of personal expression, the right of freedom of movement, and the desire to serve mankind in some capacity.” He lived these values. His clients ranged from the wealthy to the destitute. They included women who escaped sexual assault at the hands of the powerful, prisoners beaten during interrogation, and common people wrongfully charged and too poor to hire a lawyer. Words cannot capture the depth of his irrepressible desire to change lives. His legacy continues through the many lives that he impacted.

Dusty is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy; his son, Ed Rhodes and his wife Lisa; his daughter Christiana Horn and her husband Gary; his daughter Annette Smith and her husband Rodney; and his daughter Sherrie Beeson and her husband Kenny. He is also lovingly represented by 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, May 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Piersall Funeral Home, 733 Butternut, Abilene, TX, 79602.

Please join the family in a celebration of Dusty's life Saturday at 1:00 pm at Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave, Abilene, TX 79601. The graveside service will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, May 21 at Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, 7457 West Lake Rd, Abilene, TX 79601.

In honor of Dusty's memory, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to Hendrick Children's Home or the Texas Rehabilitation Center.

Dominus vobiscum, dear husband, father, grandfather, and friend. By our lives we will honor you and the one who sent you.