Friend, Fellow Cruiser and Old Town Staff Member
We have provided a Message Board for those of you that would like to leave one. Click here to sign it - Click here to read it.

Here is a little article that Linda wrote about Joe in August of 2007. but updated to 2009 stats.

“Old Town reminds me of the town I grew up in.” This is a remark I hear a lot from spectators, cruisers and staff. It is what has kept Joe Rodhouse on the Cruise Staff since he started cruising his 1956 Ford in 1990. He visited the Auto Fest with his wife and daughters then when it became the Saturday Night Cruise, they decided they wanted to be involved so they bought a cruiser and Joe volunteered his services. By the end of the year he was a permanent member of Mike T’s cruise staff. This has not stopped him being a cruiser he has added a 1966 Ford to his collection but the ’56 is seen at Old Town more than the ’66. He is seen zipping around Old Town in his yellow golf cart performing his many duties and making time to acknowledge the many friends he has made.

Joe and his wife, Karen of 49 years moved to Orlando in 1965 with their 2 daughters, Dee & Tina,  from Quincy Illinois.

Thank you Joe, you are truly a part of Old Town.

An Old Town Memorial for Joe will be held on Wednesday December 30th, 2009  in suite 156 at 6:00PM for friends and family then a special Memorial Cruise with the Wednesday Nite Cruisers. Check back for details.

Here are a few details I just received from Dee, 12/27/2009 06:24:39 AM

6:00PM-6:30PM Contributions to Memory Board (Sharing of pictures and special thoughts)
6:30PM-8:00PM Celebration of Joe's Life
8:00PM-8:15PM Vehicle staging
Approx 8:15PM A first of it's kind Memorial Cruise that will include Cruisers from all nights including Thursday.
8:45PM-11:00PM Food & Refreshments (covered dishes are welcomed - Jennifer is coordinating this 407 656-9217)

Joe's Obituary:

Rodhouse, Donald Louis (Joe), 71, passed away December 22, 2009 after a year- long battle with Leukemia. Joe is survived by his wife Karen of Orlando, daughters Dee Ann (Harold) Sutphin of Saint Cloud and Tina Kaye (David) Peters of Orlando; brothers Fred and Jerry of Pleasant Hill, IL, Bruce of Clarksville, MO and sister Bonnie Sutton of Palm Bay, FL; as well as his three beautiful grandchildren, Marsha, Kevin, and Amy Peters of Orlando.

Born September 2, 1938, Joe grew up on a farm in Pleasant Hill, IL. In 1960, Joe married Karen and they moved to Quincy, IL and had two daughters. After working a few years through the cold winter months as a siding applicator, Joe moved his family to sunny Orlando in 1965. Joe has work over 43 years in Central Florida in the home improvement industry and owned his own business, Rodhouse Aluminum, until his retirement in 2008. Joe’s interests early on included fishing, gardening, and classic cars. For over the last 20 years, you could always find Joe at Old Town in Kissimmee on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, where he was a dedicated cruise director tending to cruise events and taking on the role of Santa Claus every Christmas.

The Rodhouse Family would like to extend their love and thanks to the many family and friends who visited and comforted him this last year. To celebrate his life, a memorial for Joe will be held this week at Old Town in Kissimmee for Joe’s family and friends. A special Old Town Memorial Cruise in his honor will occur later in the evening. For further information about this event, call 407-222-5866. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to SPCA of Central FL or a blood donation to the “Gift of Life” program at Florida’s Blood Centers.