Catherine Rhoads; Home Economist Helped Disabled

Miss-Delectable · 04-20-2008, 04:00 AM

washingtonpost.com

Catherine M. Rhoads, 88, a home economist for the University of Maryland cooperative extension service who helped expand family-living programs for the deaf, blind and mentally handicapped, died March 25 at Riderwood Village retirement community in Silver Spring. She had congestive heart failure.

Mrs. Rhoads worked as an extension agent in Montgomery County for 26 years before retiring in 1980.

In her work with the deaf, she was crucial to the expansion of such programs as fitness, nutrition and self-defense for women. She also served on a Maryland panel looking into the needs of the deaf.

In the 1970s, she co-hosted with a blind homemaker a weekly radio show, "Cooking, Cleaning and Coping," broadcast by the Washington Ear, a closed-circuit radio service.

She said her approach was to "sit at the table and watch [her co-host] as she cooks, asking questions like, 'How did you know where to find the milk in the refrigerator?' or 'How did you know which can to open?' "

Her honors included the National Association of Extension Home Economists' Distinguished Service Award. She also received community awards for her work with the deaf.

Catherine Musser Rhoads was a native of Berlin, Pa., and a 1941 home economics graduate of what is now Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

In her Montgomery County extension career, she appeared on radio and television and wrote newspaper columns. She also held educational seminars that she called "clutter clinics" and worked with local colleges to create programs for homemakers to explore other career options, interpersonal communication and money management.

She also organized family finance seminars for government employees, homemakers and senior citizens.

Mrs. Rhoads compiled and edited the book "Country Carpenter: Josiah C. Werner" (1991), about her husband's grandfather. With her husband, she renovated and restored the 1912 barn built by Werner in Berlin.

She was a longtime Adelphi resident before moving to Riderwood Village in 2000.

She belonged to many professional organizations, and her other memberships included Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Silver Spring. At the church, she organized annual "soup suppers."

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, William J. Rhoads of Silver Spring; two sons, David M. Rhoads of Derwood and Richard W. Rhoads of Laurel; three sisters; and four grandchildren.

04-20-2008, 04:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 10,243 Blog Entries: 3	Catherine Rhoads; Home Economist Helped Disabled washingtonpost.com Catherine M. Rhoads, 88, a home economist for the University of Maryland cooperative extension service who helped expand family-living programs for the deaf, blind and mentally handicapped, died March 25 at Riderwood Village retirement community in Silver Spring. She had congestive heart failure. Mrs. Rhoads worked as an extension agent in Montgomery County for 26 years before retiring in 1980. In her work with the deaf, she was crucial to the expansion of such programs as fitness, nutrition and self-defense for women. She also served on a Maryland panel looking into the needs of the deaf. In the 1970s, she co-hosted with a blind homemaker a weekly radio show, "Cooking, Cleaning and Coping," broadcast by the Washington Ear, a closed-circuit radio service. She said her approach was to "sit at the table and watch [her co-host] as she cooks, asking questions like, 'How did you know where to find the milk in the refrigerator?' or 'How did you know which can to open?' " Her honors included the National Association of Extension Home Economists' Distinguished Service Award. She also received community awards for her work with the deaf. Catherine Musser Rhoads was a native of Berlin, Pa., and a 1941 home economics graduate of what is now Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. In her Montgomery County extension career, she appeared on radio and television and wrote newspaper columns. She also held educational seminars that she called "clutter clinics" and worked with local colleges to create programs for homemakers to explore other career options, interpersonal communication and money management. She also organized family finance seminars for government employees, homemakers and senior citizens. Mrs. Rhoads compiled and edited the book "Country Carpenter: Josiah C. Werner" (1991), about her husband's grandfather. With her husband, she renovated and restored the 1912 barn built by Werner in Berlin. She was a longtime Adelphi resident before moving to Riderwood Village in 2000. She belonged to many professional organizations, and her other memberships included Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Silver Spring. At the church, she organized annual "soup suppers." Survivors include her husband of 63 years, William J. Rhoads of Silver Spring; two sons, David M. Rhoads of Derwood and Richard W. Rhoads of Laurel; three sisters; and four grandchildren. __________________

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