Joseph Westley Rhoades Jr., 53

MIDDLETOWN - Joseph W. Rhoades Jr. of Middletown departed this life suddenly on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, in Christiana Care-Christiana Hospital, Newark. He was 53.

Joseph was born Jan. 3, 1954, to the late Joseph W. Rhoades Sr. and Beatrice S. Rhoades.

He received his early education at Louis L. Redding School and graduated from Middletown High School in 1975.

Joseph loved to ride his bicycle and motorcycles, and was a member of the Brother Truckers Van Club and a member of Local Union 1756.

He is survived by his devoted, loving wife and friend, Faye Brokenbrough Rhoades; three daughters, Sylvia and her husband Dwayne Christmas and Alethia and her husband Arnold Bordley, all of Dover, and Rosa Brokenbrough and Geraldina Brown of Middletown; six sisters, Florestine Anderson, Mary Muhammad, Karen Stokes and Josephine Rhoades, all of Middletown, Ophelia Evans of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Mary Banks of Buffalo, N.Y.; one brother, Anthony Rhoades of Ashland, Va.; seven grandchildren; five brothers-in-law; seven sisters-in-law; two uncles; one aunt; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

A viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today in the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 300 New St., Middletown.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 300 New St., Middletown, where friends may also call two hours prior.

Interment will be in the Dale Cemetery, Middletown.

Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.