Elroy Rode

ELROY A. “BUD” RODE, aged 94 years, beloved husband of Evelyn C. (nee Scibbe) (formerly Meyer), dear father of Carol Koesel (husband Gregory), Jacquelyn Papaleo (former husband Ron) and Christopher (former wife Susan), fond step-father to Jeffrey Meyer (deceased) (wife Valentina) and W. Paul Meyer (wife Laura), devoted grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, devoted brother of the late John Rode and Carol Riggs, former husband to the late Donna (nee Robinson). Mr. Rode was a United States Navy Veteran. Contributions in memory of Bud suggested to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516; or to any Veterans’ service organization.

Bud Rode grew up in Cleveland, where he graduated from John Hay High School in January, 1940 and immediately enrolled in Fenn College, now known as Cleveland State University. As part of his course work, he became a licensed pilot on February 13, 1942 and graduated in the top 10% of his class with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 1944.

He enlisted in the United States Navy on September 25, 1942 with the intention of becoming a pilot but was told that the need for engineers was greater.  He was placed on inactive duty to complete his college degree and immediately reported for Midshipmen’s school at Columbia University.  In February of 1946 he was commissioned as Lieutenant junior grade and was called to serve aboard the USS Lexington, where he was the ship’s engineer and division officer. The Lexington participated in nearly every major operation on the Pacific Theater. The Japanese reported her sunk four times, yet each time, she returned to fight again, leading the propagandist Tokyo Rose to nickname her, “The Blue Ghost.” The name is a testament and a tribute to the ship and the crew and air groups that served aboard. After the war ended, Bud continued to serve in occupied Japan and was part of the first wave of Allied Servicemen to see firsthand the devastating results of the nuclear attacks that led to the end of the war.

After returning home, he worked as an Industrial Engineer in the Nut and Bolt division of Republic Steel for the remainder of his career. While working for Republic Steel, he spent some time in Liberia as part of a team sent to improve the company’s operations there.

He was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church, where he was active in the church community and was a Deacon for many years.

He was a talented musician with a beautiful bass voice, and was a member the church choir, University Circle Chorale, and the PAND Festival Chorus, which performed a concert each year to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and bring awareness to peace and environmental causes. When not singing with one of his choirs, he could always be heard humming or singing along with the classical music station WCLV as he worked on projects around the house or in the garden.

He will be remembered for his excellent storytelling and for the love, care, and exacting detail he poured into everything he touched.

Funeral services Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at the funeral home at 10:30 AM. Burial following with military honors at Knollwood Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Bud at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) MONDAY 4-8 PM.