April 16, 1942 – November 24, 2025

Marvin “Marv” Leon Rhodes
April 16, 1942 – November 24, 2025

Marvin Rhodes passed away peacefully at his home in Battlement Mesa, Colorado. His family has gathered to celebrate the patriarch of the family and cherish a life that was well-lived. Marvin was born in Amarillo, Texas, to Joseph Frank Rhodes and Nora J. Nye Rhodes.

Marvin moved at the age of five with his family to Glenwood Springs, the place he would call his forever home. It is here that he would meet Elmond “Monty” Rhodes in grade school, become friends, and later becoming husband and wife. Marvin spoke fondly of his adventures and shenanigans in Glenwood Springs along with his memories of being on the Glenwood Springs men’s basketball team and track and field team. After graduating from GSHS, Marvin served in the Navy from 1961 to 1965. During this time, he had the joy of marrying Monty Rhodes on December 21, 1963. After the Navy, Marvin returned home to work as a carpenter with his father-in-law building homes around the Glenwood Springs area. He also worked 20 years at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado, where he enjoyed sharing his woodworking skills and work ethic with many students over the years.

In 2002, Marvin and Monty moved to Battlement Mesa where they thoroughly enjoyed the community of friends they have made, notably including their neighbor Chucky.

Marvin was a mountain man at heart and welcomed spending most of his life outdoors. Marvin and Monty spent many years on RV trips with their friends, hiking and exploring the western United States. Marvin’s most cherished times were spent backpacking with his son and brother. He also valued camping, hunting, hiking, and fishing in the Fryingpan alpine lake area (Savage Lake, Sawyer Lake, and Fryingpan Lake) with his family, even during times when the family camping trip was cut short due to a 4th of July blizzard. Beyond his outdoor recreations, he was a skilled woodworker, creating furniture and décor for his family and occasionally selling these crafts during the Kathryn Senor Elementary craft fair. He was an avid sports fan and would love to sit in his chair and watch baseball, football, and men’s basketball (Go Kentucky Wildcats!), diligently writing down every score in his daily journal. He was a man of routine and never missed a day from feeding his birds in the morning, calling his best friend, Charlie, everyday at 4 PM, and having an occasional beer at the end of the day.

Everyone that knew Marvin knew that his unconditional love for his wife and family was at the forefront of his identity. He spoke fondly of how he proposed to his wife and was honored to have been married for 61 years. Marvin is survived and remembered by his wife, Monty, his brother Kenneth (Loretta Leyba) Rhodes of Arvada, his sister Barbara Young of Lathrop, Missouri, and his children, Mandy (Robert) Wood of New Castle and Marlin (Yoko Smith) Rhodes of Carbondale. Marvin is lovingly survived by his 4 granddaughters who he was so proud of, Brianna Rhodes of Berlin, Germany, Faith Wood of Columbus, Ohio, Brittany Rhodes of Carbondale, Colorado, and Hayley Wood of Littleton, Colorado, and his 2 grandsons Ryu Smith of Boulder, Colorado, and Kenji Smith of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. His grandchildren will forever appreciate how their grandfather was there to cheer them on during any sports or performance, rain or shine.

Marvin’s life can be summed up as one that was humbly rich and lived with purpose. He did not ask for much, worked extremely hard for everything he had, and maintained a positive attitude that filled the room with light and joy. There was always a twinkle in his eye and his ability to recall memories of his life was something his family will treasure for their entire life. Anyone that has known Marvin has been better off for it and has been impacted by a great man. “You let the old man in,” and we will carry on how you shaped each of us in our heart.

At this time, the family does not have any formal arrangements in place for funeral services. Instead, the family would greatly appreciate any special photos and stories of Marvin to be sent to:
marvinrhodesmemories@gmail.com

The family is deeply thankful for the love and support we have received thus far.