Carol A. Rhoades

Carol A. Rhoades, 83, a lifelong resident of Northwest Ohio, and a former bus driver for the Anthony Wayne School District, died on Dec. 12, 2025, surrounded by family.

Born on Sept. 29, 1942, Carol was the daughter of Wallace Sherwood and Helen Marie (Cronk) Bigley. She was also a proud graduate of Libby High School.

Carol married her late husband, James, on Jan. 13, 1962. She was a devoted wife for nearly 48 years until James passed away in 2009. She was also a loving mother to three sons, the Rhoades Wrecking Crew, and enjoyed many family adventures together full of love and laughter.

Carol began driving a school bus for the Anthony Wayne School District in the 1970s. She drove countless students to and from school for decades, including driving students with accessibility needs during the summer months. She loved being a bus driver, and her dedication, kindness, and humor left a lasting impression.

In her spare time, Carol was a longtime active member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Bus Drivers Association, finding joy and camaraderie in her community connections, and making lasting friendships along the way. She was known for her bright smile, and her contagious laughter could fill any room she entered.

She enjoyed traveling with her family and creating cherished memories, like trips to Arizona, driving to Tennessee, snowmobiling in Michigan, and many others she loved to recount. She always had stories, silly phrases, and laughter to share. And she knew how to throw a great party— be it a hog roast, Thanksgiving meal, or Christmas gathering. She was also an avid sports fan, enthusiastically cheering on her favorite teams, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Tigers.

Carol is survived by her children, Kevin (Valerie), Jeffery (Nancy), and Steven (Jennifer) Rhoades; her sister, Kathleen (Clarence) Hertzfeld; her brother, Glenn Allen (Arlene) Bigley; her grandchildren, Dustin, Jaime, Joshua, Cody, Heidi, Tyler, Dameon, Tim, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, James, she is preceded in death by siblings, Bonnie Jean Smith, Nancy Irene Moore, and Thomas Bigley.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be announced at a later date.