The Reverend W. Dale Rhome
The Reverend W. Dale Rhome, age 82, of Carson Avenue, Oil City, Pa., went home to be with the Lord he served on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, from The Presbyterian Home, Oil City. He was born July 8, 1924, in Wyano, Pa., the son of Harry McKinley Rhome and Anna Ruth Washabaugh Rhome.
Dale served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, including 11 months of combat with the 71st Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division in the European Theatre, the Battle of the Bulge, and Normandy.
A 1942 graduate of East Huntingdon (Pa.) High School, he also graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, New York, and the Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky.
Reverend Rhome was ordained an Elder in the Free Methodist Church (1953), Oil City Conference.
His pastoral appointments were in West Kendall, New York, Lexington, Kentucky, and New Castle, Williamsport, Oil City, Coal Hill and Erie, Pennsylvania. He also served as Interim Pastor in Girard, Barbours, New Brighton, and Fertigs, Pennsylvania, and Warren and New Middletown, Ohio.
His most recent affiliation was as Pastor of Visitation at Trinity United Methodist Church, Oil City.
Pastor Rhome was a contract Chaplain at Polk Center for 21 years, served as treasurer of the Oil City Lions Club, and was a member of the Oil City Association and the Siverly Ministerial Association and the James Henderson American Legion Post 32.
He was a member of the Pleasantville Family Camp Board.
He taught ordination classes for the Keystone (formerly Oil City) Conference of the Free Methodist Church and was the Conference treasurer from 1978 to 1988.
He had been a member of the General Sunday School Council of the Free Methodist Church as well as a Delegate to the General Conference in 1984 and 1989.
Dale enjoyed gardening, music, friends both new and old, travel, humor, Christian worship and his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Romayne Rhome Vrhovac, a brother, H. Denver Rhome, and his wife of 40 years, Elva Baker Rhome (September 5, 1947 to September 13, 1987).
He is survived by two daughters: Rebecca Jane Rhome Sawyer and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Wayne R. Sawyer, Ford City, Pa., and Ruth Ellen Rhome Brewer and her husband, Lycoming County Sheriff Charles T. Brewer, Williamsport, Pa.
He is also survived by four grandchildren: Erica R. Sawyer Sheets and her husband Jude T., Weirton, West Virginia, Gregory D. Sawyer and his companion, Susan A. Wilson, Uniontown, Pa., Daniel J. Brewer and Sgt. Mark A. Brewer and his wife, Christina D., Williamsport, Pa.; as well as a sister, Bonnie Ruth Rhome Trout and her husband, Joseph Trout, Mount Pleasant, Pa.; many nieces and nephews; a beloved cat, Shadrack; and many friends.
The family received friends at TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PARLORS, 2 Center Street, Oil City, Pa., on Friday, December 8, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. where visitation will continue today (Saturday, December 9) from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
A Memorial Service will be held in the Church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bruce Merritt officiating.
Committal will be held in Zelienople, Pa., following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 2 Center Street, or to the Oil City Library, 2 Central Avenue, both Oil City, PA 16301.
Funeral services are under the direction of the RHOME FUNERAL HOME INC., 1209 Grand Boulevard, Monessen, PA 15062, Matthew P. Rhome, Supervisor, with local assistance from the REINSEL FUNERAL HOME, Oil City, Pa.
Condolences may be sent to
www.ReinselFuneralHome.com