PHOEBE ELIZABETH RHEM

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Mrs. Phoebe (Elizabeth) Calhoun Rhem, 88, died at the home of her daughter, Janet Mercer, 1456 Cherry Road, Washington, N.C.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Paul Funeral Home of Washington and will be conducted by Ray West and Pastor Tim Hackett. Burial will follow at Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Shawn Rhem, Alex Rhem, Tom Rhem, Adam Waters, Shawn Mercer, Craig Mercer and Josh Mercer will serve as pallbearers.

Elizabeth was born Sept. 8, 1922, in Pitt County, the daughter of the late John Washington Calhoun and Hernrietta Cox Calhoun. She graduated from Ayden High School and later attended business school.

She married Clyde N. Rhem on Feb. 14, 1942, at which time they moved to California. After World War II, they returned to Beaufort County where Elizabeth worked for National Spinning for several years. In 1962, they moved to Highpoint, N.C., at which time she worked for Burlington Industries in their Human Resources department. After Clyde’s death in September of 1970, she again returned to Washington and returned to work at National Spinning Co. She retired from National Spinning in 1980, but was not ready to give up working. She started working at Beaufort County Hospital in the canteen. She enjoyed the work there as she had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people. She was also noted for her delicious bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for which many traveled from near and far for a sample. She continued to work there until she was 80 years old. She was a member of the First Church of Christ, Washington.

She leaves behind her daughter, Janet Rhem Mercer and husband, Edward, of Washington, N.C.; three sons, Clyde N. “Nick” Rhem II and wife, Ann, of Johnson City, Tenn.; John Micheal “Mike” Rhem of Washington, N.C.; and Richard Thomas “Tom” Rhem, and wife, Eleanor, of Chocowinity, N.C.; eight grandchildren, Stephen “Adam” Waters, Shawn Rhem, Alex Rhem, Richard “Tom” Rhem II, Nicklus Allred, Shawn Mercer, Craig Mercer and adopted granddaughter Marcela Malo of Ecuador S.A.; six great-grandchildren, Evan Waters, Joshua Mercer, Candice Mercer, Matthew Mercer, Avery Allred and Asher Allred.

Mrs. Rhem was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two grandchildren Elizabeth “Beth” Waters and Jonathan P. Waters, four brothers, Dan, Radford, John, Tommy Calhoun and one sister, Verdie Lee McLawhorn.

Special thanks to caregivers Clementine Jones, Lee Houston and a special sister-in-law Blanche Rhem.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service at Paul Funeral Home of Washington and at other times at the home of her daughter, 1456 Cherry Road, Washington, N.C.

Flowers are appreciated or a memorial can be made to the Beaufort Medical Center Foundation, c/o Lights of Love Annual Fund, 628 E. 12th St. Washington, NC 27889.

You may address condolences and view Mrs. Rhem’s memorial video tribute by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to serve the Rhem family.

Paid Obituary