Gertrude (Pug) Dixon Rhodes

Gertrude (Pug) Dixon Rhodes, 87 of New Bern, died on November 27, 2018. She was born on December 31, 1930 in Alliance, NC and moved to New Bern when she was 9 years old. She graduated New Bern High School in 1949 where she was voted most humorous by her fellow classmates. After graduation, she attended East Carolina Teacher’s College (ECU). She married Cecil Windsor Rhodes in 1952 after he served in the United States Navy in WWII. Pug’s career consisted of various jobs throughout her life, the first being a ticket taker at the Kehoe Theater now known as the NB Civic Theatre. She was a switchboard operator at the Maola Milk Plant and a teacher’s assistant at Bridgeton Elementary School before working for a local publication company, Taylor Publications. She worked as a civil service payroll clerk at Cherry Point until her retirement. In later life she lived and managed (part-time) the Bishop Home Apartments where she reconnected with old friends while making new devoted friends. The most important role Pug had was being a homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother. Pug is survived by her two children, Ira Len Rhodes (Donda) and Jill Rhodes Taylor (Rhett); five grandchildren, John Rhodes-Pruitt (Mike), Jordan Pulido (Corey), Anne Hayes (Corey), Caroline Jackson (Matthew), and Erin Taylor; three great-grandchildren, Holly Martin Jackson, Reade Matthew Jackson, and Graylen James Puildo and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Windsor Rhodes; mother, Gertrude Dixon Gaskins; father, Ira Winifred Dixon, and step-father, North Adrian Gaskins. Pug was a good and kind mother that carried a big stick (wooden spoon). She was an exceptional grandmother and faithful friend. Throughout her life she enjoyed “dragging Main St.”, camping with extended family, attending bluegrass festivals, traveling, fishing, crabbing, playing cards and most importantly, babysitting her grandchildren. Her favorite breakfast was a rare grilled hamburger with a can of Budweiser. She had a quick wit and was always full of advice on fast fixes the family called “Pug’s Pointers”. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Home Instead Senior Care and Care 2U for the wonderful home health care, her caregiver and friend, Mary Ann Smart, and Bayview Nursing Home. A Celebration of Pug’s Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday December 3, 2018 at Garber United Methodist Church in New Bern. The family will be greeting guests following the service in the Atrium. Donations may be made in her memory to the Disabled American Veterans, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring KY 41076 or online at http://www.dav.org.