Kenneth George Charles Rhode, 102, of Wooster, Ohio died_Saturday, March 12, 2011. Calling hours will be Saturday, March 19, from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at McIntire, Davis & Greene Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill Street, Wooster, Ohio 44691. The funeral will be held Sunday, March 20 at 4:00 P.M. at Trinity United Church of Christ 150 North St. Wooster, Ohio, where Ken was an active member for over sixty years and had served as Sunday School teacher, Superintendent of the Sunday School, Deacon, Elder, President of the Consistory and chairman of numerous committees .In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wooster Salvation Army 437 S. Market St. Wooster, Ohio 44691 and Trinity United Church of Christ, 150 North St. Wooster, Ohio 44691.
He was born in 1909 in Sandusky, Ohio, came to Wooster in 1937 and married Norma Tschantz on June 2, 1940. She preceded him in death on July 23, 2008. He is survived by his four children: Beth (Dave) Eberhard, Ruth (John) Waltman, Ken Rhode and John Rhode; six grandchildren: Christy Eibel, David Eberhard, John Murphy, Kate Frichtl, Kendall Rhode, and Jeffrey Rhode; four great-grandchildren: Lauren, Carley, Chloe and Jack, and a brother Edward Rhode plus many other beloved relatives. His 95 year old sister, Carolyn Fischer preceded him in death on March 5, 2011.
Ken had a great love for the water, especially Lake Erie, and he shared that love with his family. In his nineties he jet-skied on the lake and always thought of himself as a true ?water rat?. Throughout his life he enjoyed holidays and vacations with his many relatives and friends, which demonstrated his appreciation of the importance of family. Some of his most memorable experiences included boating and fishing expeditions on the lake. Al Berger and Jim Morgan were longtime friends who enjoyed many fishing trips with him. He was also loyal to his many other friends and enjoyed his Friday night dinner group with his recent companion Betty Gantz as well as Pete Bogner, Cora Gigax, , Joan and Gene Buehler, Ford and Ann Ross.
He was the last living founder of the Lightning Rod Mutual Insurance Company and Western Reserve Mutual Casualty Company, which today are the main companies of the Western Reserve Group. Ken served as the chairman and president for many years and was still on their boards and executive committee.
He was very active in the Mutual Fire and Casualty business, both statewide and nationally, and was often called ?Mr. Mutual of Ohio? due to his involvement with the Ohio Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, where he served as director, president, and later as its manager, secretary, and treasurer for over thirty years.
He also served as a director and executive committee member of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was a speaker at many of their seminars and national conventions. He was the first winner of their three top national awards: their Merit Award in 1965, their Distinguished Service Award in 1973, and their highest award, the Presidential Award, in 1977.
Ken helped form their prestigious National Merit Award Society where he was one of its first directors and later national president in 1973. He was a director for many years of the Sonnenberg Mutual Insurance Company; Farmers Mutual Relief Association, Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Farmers Mutual Home Insurance Association, Elyria and Wooster; past president of the Ohio Reinsurance Bureau, Newark and the Mutual Insurance Service Bureau; a past trustee of the Griffith Foundation of the Ohio State University; the Ohio Bureau of Casualty Insurers; the Ohio Insurance Institute; the Ohio Federation of Insurance; the Ohio Auto Insurance Plan; honorary member of the Ohio State University Society; and past president of Forward Agencies, Inc.
He was listed in Who?s Who in the Midwest, Who?s Who in Commerce and Industry, and Who?s Who in American Banking.
Locally, he was a past member of the Masons; American Legion; Isaac Walton League; Corporation Board Boy?s Village; Wooster YMCA, where he also served as a member of their board; a life member of the Elks, where he was a past Exalted Ruler; past president of the Wooster Rotary Club; a Paul Harris fellow; past president of the Wooster Chamber of Commerce; past president of the Young Republican Club, past director and vice president of the former commercial Banking and Trust Company and later the Central Trust, Wooster Office branch. He was a director and past chairman of the board of the Wayne Savings Community Bank, a member of the Wooster Country Club, The Glades Country Club of Naples, Florida; and the Pillar Club of United Way.
In 2003 he was elected to the Wooster Chamber of Commerce Wall of Fame and later was added to the Wooster YMCA Wall of Fame.
Ken was a graduate of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, and did graduate work at Ohio State and Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. During World War II, he served as a naval officer with the 7th Fleet in the South Pacific and the Phillipine Liberation.
He was always generous to his family, church, community organizations, and many area charities. He was also an inspiration to so many because of his numerous years of longevity, and his active participation in community events.

Memorial Contributions
The Salvation Army 437 S. Market St. Wooster, Ohio 44691 or to Trinity United Church of Christ 150 North St. Wooster, Ohio 44691

Service
4 P.M. Sunday March 20, 2011 at Trinity United Church of Christ 150 North St. Wooster, Ohio 44691

Visitation
Saturday March 19, 2011 from 3-7 P.M. at the funeral home.