Memorial service for Robert Peter Rhea will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Dayspring Community Church with Pastor Tim Evans officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Robert Peter Rhea, age 67, of Lawton, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at his home in Lawton.  Pete was born January 16, 1950 to Thomas and Bobbie (Baker) Rhea. Although he was born in Lexington, KY, he grew up with his parents and two brothers in Rogersville, TN. Following his graduation from Rogersville High School, Pete attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, where he was recruited to play basketball for legendary basketball coach, Bobby Knight. After graduating from West Point, he served in the military at Fort Campbell, KY, for five years before leaving the military to pursue an MBA from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. It was in Tulsa where he met his wife, Patti Wilson of Lawton. The two were married on September 22, 1979. Following his graduation from ORU, Pete became business manager of a Tulsa-based law firm, Holliman, Langholtz, Dorwart, and Runnels. Pete worked there for five years before moving his family to Lawton, OK, in 1986 to begin developing the Pecan Valley housing addition. For the past twenty years, Pete and Patti have together run LifeStyle Homes, a home building business based in the suburbs of Lawton. A lifelong lover of knowledge, Pete also earned a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Biola University in 2006.

Pete was an elder at DaySpring Community Church and a member of the board of Lawton Christian School. His passion for God's Word was evident to all who knew him. He loved LCS and had a passion for teaching philosophical worldviews to high school students so they could stand for their faith beyond high school.

Most of all, Pete loved his family. He coached his children's basketball teams through their elementary years and attended hundreds of their high school basketball games at Lawton Christian School. He was a wise man who ferociously studied God's Word and a man of integrity who lived a life consistent with West Point's Cadet Honor Code, which states, "a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

Pete is survived by his wife, Patti and their three children: Jordan Rhea, Yukon, OK; Jennifer Rhea, Hoopstad, South Africa, and Jeffrey Rhea, Houston, TX; brothers Dr. Tom Rhea of Franklin, TN, and John Rhea of Louisville, KY; mother-in-law Dorothy Wilson, Lawton, OK; Brothers and sisters-in-law Dr. Gary Wilson and Nancy Wilson, Edmond, OK, Dr. Rick Wilson and Loyce Wilson, Denton, TX, Curtis and Kaye Wilson Haire of Lawton; nephews Patrick Rhea and Dylan Rhea, Franklin, TN, Dr. Isaac Rhea of Cleveland, OH, Dan Wilson, Oklahoma City, Chris Haire, Indiahoma; Bill Wilson, Denver, CO, Mitchell Wilson, Argyle, TX; Jason Wilson, Ashville, NC; nieces Teri Johnson, Edmond, OK, Kate Wilson, Pagosa Springs, CO, and Patricia Haire, Lawton.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Harold Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Single Parents Scholarship Fund at Lawton Christian School ( http://www.lcscrusaders.com/support/designated.cfm ) or the missions fund at Dayspring Community Church ( http://www.dayspringcc.net/give/ ).