Roger Dean Rhea

Mr. Roger Dean Rhea, 68, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, departed this life on Tuesday,

February 21, 2023, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital after a long battle with covid. He

was born May 9, 1954 to the late Earnest and Katheryn Rhea.

Roger was a U.S. Navy veteran serving time during the Vietnam War. He loved this

country and was deeply conservative.He attended Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro.

Roger had an immense love of music and had vast audio equipment in his sound room

where he often retreated. He had a love of animals and frequently rescued them. He

enjoyed sitting on the patio and watching deer in the tree farm behind the house. Roger

worked tirelessly in the yard and enjoyed making a garden every year in the raised beds

in the backyard. He was devoted to his wife and family and was a good friend to many.

His hobby was restoring older audio equipment.

Roger was trained in the Navy and worked as an aircraft electrician and utilized these

skills in his lifelong work in telecommunications. Starting time at Ritter Communications

where he worked the last 20 years of his career was at 8:00 am, yet he showed up a

little after 7:00 am demonstrating his exemplary work ethic. He was a mentor and friend

to many coworkers.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by; one brother, Randy Rhea.

He is survived by; his wife of 22 years, Donna Rhea of the home; two sons, Marshall

Rhea of Springfield, MO, Justin Rhea of Jonesboro; two step daughters, Amy

Alumbaugh of Jonesboro, DeAnna Hardin of Lakeland, TN; one granddaughter, Willow

Dawn Rhea of Springfield, and one step granddaughter, Layah Hardin of Lakeland, TN;

and a lifetime of friends.

Friends may visit at Emerson Memorial Chapel, Sunday, February 26, 2023, beginning

at 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Rutherford

Cemetery in Goobertown with Pastor Jay Jacobs officiating the services. Active

Pallbearers will include Randall Rowley, Russell Goodman, Mark Mason, Mark Douglas,

Mike Bragg and William Runyan. Honorary Pallbearers; Barry Rudd, Pat Massey, Byron

Hewitt, Mike Gillespie, Mike Etter and Marshall Rhea.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked to please consider donations to the American

Cancer Society.

To sign an online guestbook, go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com