Phyllis K. Barry Rhodes

PHYLLIS RHODES MUSCATINE, Iowa - Phyllis K. Barry Rhodes, 77, of 106 E Sixth St, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. on Monday at the St. Mathias Church. The Rev. Bernard Weir will officiate. Pallbearers will be Richard Sessler, Mary Alice Sessler, Roger Chapman Jr., Jack Garbutt, Henry Kathrein and Ron Marshall. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday at the church. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Phyllis Rhodes Memorial Fund. Phyllis Rhodes was born on April 2, 1925, in Muscatine, the daughter of John C. and Edith L. Barry. She graduated high school from Basic Townsite, Nevada in May of 1945. She was the granddaughter of Nicholas Barry, pioneer inventor, manufacturer and founder of the Barry Company in Muscatine, which survived for 125 years. Nicholas Barry was the inventor of the automatic button making machine and the steel split pulley. Other inventions of the elder Barry included: the classifying machine for the automatic gauging and ...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

ting of steel ball bearings, rotary hydrants for fire boats and the goose neck trap used in plumbing today. Phyllis was a former owner of Woodlawn Market, Barry Manufacturing Company, Barry Company, and the Hotel Muscatine. She also worked at Grain Processing and H. J. Heinz Company. She won the Ladies City Golf Tournament in 1957. She loved gardening, was an avid Cubs fan and reader of mysteries. Survivors include one son, John C. Rhodes of Muscatine; two granddaughters, Malissa Rhodes and Erika Rhodes both of Muscatine; one sister, Florence Quinn; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Harrison J. Barry, Edward L. Barry, and John "Bud" Barry; and two sisters, Evelyn Kautz and Irene Meerdink.