Jarrell Rhea

RHEA, J.B.--

Graveside services are scheduled for 2:00 P. M. on Tuesday, September 16, at Resthaven Cemetery in Lubbock for J. B. Rhea of Roswell. He peacefully transitioned to Heaven on September 13, 2008, two days shy of his ninety-fifth birthday. Rick Rapp of Gateway Church of Roswell will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Lubbock associates Jack McQueen, Bobby McQueen, Jeff Wheeler, Gordon Downum, and Bob Tate; and the members of the Rotary Club of Roswell.

J. B. was born in Hewitt, Texas, on September 15, 1913, to J. H. and Lottie Rhea. His parents; his older sister, Regina Rhea Franks; and his wife, Kathryn Hudman Rhea, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Hud and Roxanne Rhea of Roswell; by his daughter and son-in-law, Ry

n and Russell Bowers of Houston; and by his sister-in-law, Evelyn Hudman Smith of Lubbock. Other survivors include grandchildren: David Rhea and wife Kelly; Robin and husband Larry Parker; Barton Bowers and Brian Bowers. He is also survived by his great grandchildren: Melody and Michael Pasqualini, Landon and Aimee Rhea, and Hannah Parker and Kase Parker.

J. B. began his long career in the motion picture theater business while attending Lubbock High School, and later as a Texas Tech student. As an employee of the Griffith Amusement Company he worked his way up the ladder with jobs including usher, doorman, projectionist, assistant house manager, house manager, assistant manager, and manager of multiples theaters in numerous towns around the circuit in West Texas and Oklahoma.

In July, 1937, J. B. married Kathryn Hudman. Following the birth of their son, Hud, in 1938, and their daughter, Ryn, in 1942, J. B. volunteered to serve in the United States Army during World War II. He saw hazardous duty in the South Pacific and the Philippines as a forward observer for the artillery.

Following the war, he resumed his theater career in Norman, Oklahoma, and later in Lubbock. Throughout his involvement with the motion picture industry, he was known for his innovative, creative, and attention-getting publicity campaigns. His favorite was a three-day horseback ride, during a January blizzard, from Amarillo to Elk City, Oklahoma, to deliver the reels of film for the upcoming attraction and, more importantly, to prove that it could be done and that he was the man who could do it.
PFollowing his retirement from the theater business in 1968, J. B. began a second career as the Executive Director of the Lubbock Boa

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Monday, September 15, 2008
9:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Service

Graveside Services

Resthaven Cemetery
5740 W. 19th St.
Lubbock, TX  79407
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
2:00 p.m.

Cemetery

Resthaven Cemetery
5740 W. 19th St.
Lubbock, TX  79407

Memorial Contributions

Rotary Club
P.O. Box 163
Roswell, NM  88202

Gateway Christian School Fund
1900 N. Sycamore
Roswell, NM  88201