Rhoda Frances Goodwin Debes' Obituary
Rhoda Frances Goodwin Debes passed away on July 23, 2016 at the age of 72 surrounded by family. Rhoda was born on January 6, 1944 in El Paso, Texas to Ralph Barnett Goodwin and Shirley Patten Goodwin. While a small child the family moved to California where Rhoda grew up and graduated from Paramount High School. After high school she attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in education and taught elementary school for a short while. One of the greatest accomplishments of Rhoda's life was a mission that she served for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Andes South Mission which included Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile. During her mission she assisted in opening and running a school of which she was the school director in La Paz, Bolivia, which continued on for many many years. While at the school she met President Hinckley on visits and has a picture on her mantle to this day with her close friend and companion Judy Mcnally with President Hinckley. Her love for service was easy to see from the experiences she had while serving her mission. Rhoda came home from her mission and then was married to Robert Debes in the Los Angeles Temple.
By far the greatest accomplishment she had was her kids. For those that knew Mom they knew that she loved and adored her kids and grandkids. Every conversation turned into her family. But she didn't just keep the title of Mom for her kids. Mom was "Mom" for a huge number of her children's friends. Until the day she died everyone called asking about "Mom" and seeing how "Mom" was doing. Rhoda exemplified the love of the Savior by always putting other people first and serving those around her. The greatest example of that love was shown when she cared for her parents for the final years of their lives before their passing.
Rhoda was an extraordinary piano and organ player and from a very young age played the organ for church services. She taught piano for as many years as can be remembered. Her music touched many a life and in many different ways. That love of music is carried on through those she taught and also her kids.
Another group of people that Mom loved were all of her friends that she worked with at Tahitian Noni/Morinda. Her friends at work were a big part of her happiness and they spent time outside of work hanging out and going to lunch and dinner, just so they had the wonderful chance to hear her talk even more about her kids and grandkids.
Mom was absolutely adored by her children and loved spending time with them as often as possible. Her children are so blessed for the time they had with her. Her children and grand children are as follows. Renee and Dewayne Nobles and their kids Kayla, Devyn and Miley of Las Vegas. Brian Debes of Salt Lake City. David and Jessica Debes and their kids Jerika, Dominic and Rockwell (soon to come) of Provo. Vance and Gennifer Debes and their kids Colton and Parker Brynn of Hutto, Texas.
A special thanks to the Edgemont 6th ward of which the Goodwin family has been a large part for almost 50 years. Thank you to the members there who helped us during this difficult time. Also a special thank you to the amazing staff of the Intensive Care Unit at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. The care they gave to our mother at the end was full of love and compassion and they made her passing more bearable.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 30, 2016 at the Edgemont 6th Ward, 4000 Timpview Drive, Provo, UT where a viewing will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturday prior to services from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment at the East Lawn Memorial Park.
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