Rebecca R. Rhoads, a retired Baltimore County public schools educator and beach lover, died Tuesday of complications from dementia at St. Agnes Hospital. She was 80.
The daughter of Joseph Felton "Buck" Turner and Myrtle Ray Turner, farmers, Rebecca Ray Turner was born and raised in Jackson, N.C., and graduated in 1954 from Jackson High School.
She earned a bachelor's degree in 1958 from the Women's College of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.
Ms. Rhoads began her teaching career in 1964 in Virginia Beach, Va., and after teaching stints in Newport Beach, Calif., and Fairfax, Va., she moved to Maryland in 1971 and began teaching in Baltimore County's public schools.
She married George Aaron Rhoads, a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. salesman, in 1971, and the couple settled in Catonsville.
Ms. Rhoads taught first grade at Edmondson Heights, Maiden Choice and Halethorpe elementary schools. She also taught social studies at Johnnycake Middle School.
She retired in 1999.
Ms. Rhoads and her husband traveled throughout Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
Her favorite beaches were Avalon, N.J., and Corolla, N.C., according to her daughter, Rebecca Lyn Rhoads of Catonsville. Ms. Rhoads liked visiting them with family and friends, her daughter said.
She and her husband also liked collecting antique glass pickle canisters.
Ms. Rhoads was a member of the Catonsville Presbyterian Church, 1400 Frederick Road, where a celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday. .
In addition to her husband and daughter, Ms. Rhoads is survived by two brothers, Joseph Felton Turner Jr. and Sam Curtis Turner, both of Jackson, N.C.; a sister, Ellen Virginia Turner Winnett of Greensboro, N.C.; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
— Frederick N. Rasmussen