Obituary of Rodney Summers Ketcham

Rodney Summers Ketcham, 78, passed away Monday, February 18th, 2008 at home with his family at his side. Rodney was born in Airton, Alabama and from childhood was brought up in Tallahassee where he graduated from Leon High School and Florida State with a B.S. degree in public administration. He then went into the U.S. Coast Guard. He moved to Cocoa Beach in 1955 and was the first city manager for the City of Cocoa Beach. He then went into real estate and construction and at the present was owner of Rodney S. Ketcham, Inc. commercial realty. Rodney was a director for the former American Bank of the South, Merritt Island, Fl. now Wachovia, member of National Assn. of Realtors and the Florida Assn. of Realtors, founding member and trustee of Brevard Community College, member of and former president of the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, trustee and past chairman of Cape Canaveral Hospital, Inc., member of the Cocoa Beach Community Church, founding member and past chairman fo the Brevard County Economic Development Council, Director of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and past vice president of the Small Business Division, founding member and honorary member of Leadership Brevard, founding member of the Brevard County Civilian Military Council, Honorary Life member of Brevard Community College Foundation, director of Technological Research and Development Authority, Florida Hospital Association, director Air Force Space and Missile Museum foundation, director and past chairman on Junior Achievement of East Central Florida, Commisioner Canaveral Port Authority, founding member of the Tiger Bay Club, board member and past chairman of Health First, Inc., past chairman of Health First Health Plans, Inc., director of the Space Coast Economic Development Commission and director of the Florida Space Club. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ann; son, Dale (Sue); daughter, Summer (Hugh) Devlin; grandsons, Zane and Jansen Ketcham; and a sister Sammie Wilfong. Memorial Services will be held 2 PM Saturday, Feb. 23rd at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa Beach with Dr. Fred Fourie and Dr .Leonard Sponsler of the Cocoa Beach Community Church officiating. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cocoa Beach Community Church, 126 S. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, Fl. 32931 or to Hospice of Health First, 200 South Courtenay Pkwy., Merritt Island, Fl. 32952.