who knew him mourn his passing, he has left a legacy of band directors and music students to carry on his life-long work. 
usty wasn't shy with his words or his opinions.  I recall seeing two sophomore music students at the store one day, on their hands and knees, rolling 2B drum sticks on the floor, as they had been taught to do in percussion pedagogy, to find the straightest, most balanced sticks.  With a sly grin and a quite florid  choice of words Dusty remarked, "What are you trying to do?  This floor hasn't been level in years and besides, they all sound the same when you beat a drum."
any a time, one would enter the store and hear records of the Albert Gallatin High School band playing K.L. King's "In Storm and Sunshine" march.  Over the sounds of a finely rehearsed and perfectly in tune band, you could hear Dusty remark, "Now listen to these woodwinds on this passage.  That's how you're supposed to play a march  No brass on the melody first time through the trio".
AA Board member, Mike Roberts, has many fond stories of Dusty at the Morgantown High School band camp during his tenure as director. "Dusty always wrote a camp song which would be sung by four staff members in barbershop-like style.  This was always a hit, and looked forward to by students and staff alike, and featured text about members of the band and staff. We often would sing the camp song on bus trips, such as, "I Heard the Crash on the Highway," or "When I Die, I may not go to Heaven," and many more.
usty was the trumpet section teacher at camp, and he worked diligently to get the students to "blow through the horn."  As a result, Morgantown High always had a strong trumpet section. While playing a halftime performance in Buckhannon when Phil Rossano was the band director there,  Phil asked Dusty, "What do you feed those trumpets, raw meat?"  Dusty's impact is still felt by colleagues, former trumpet players and members and staff of the Red & Blue Band. He is truly missed.
Dusty actively served the Music Alumni Board and recruited many present members.  In memory of his work, the family has established an endowed scholarship fund to eventually be awarded to an outstanding music student at WVU.  If you are interested in contributing to the "Walter S. 'Dusty' Rhodes Music Scholarship" simply call the College of Creative Arts Development Office at 304-293-4841x3222.