Obituary of Ellen Juanita Rode

Born August 6, 1953 in Lufkin, Texas as the only child of parents Carl F. Rode and Etta Juanita "Nita" (Aldredge) Rode. Ellen joined Jesus and her loved ones in Heaven July 21, 2022, passing from this life at her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado after a lengthy battle with cancer. She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Etta Rode; as well as most uncles and aunts. Ellen is survived by an uncle, Jim Rode of Saint Louis, Missouri; and numerous cousins and friends, she made during her time in Southern Brazoria County, Texas and during her missionary work with Youth With a Mission in Colorado Springs and travels all over the world. She always had a strong bond with her mother's younger sister, Ruth Aldredge Hazlewood and visited her often in Angleton, Texas until Ruth's passing in 2016. Ellen continued her close relationship with Ruth's children and grandchildren until her death. She had an idyllic childhood growing up in Lufkin, Texas going to church and school. She enjoyed fishing, visiting relatives and playing guitar. Ellen made a profession of faith and was baptized at a young age. She loved helping her father in his work with the Shelby County Beagle Club in Lufkin and traveled for Beagle field trials all over the region. In her youth, she attended summer camp at Camp Kickapoo in Kerrville, Texas and later became a camp counselor. She loved all outdoor activities from tennis, swimming, volleyball, archery to hiking and camping. Ellen graduated from Lufkin High School in 1971. She attended and graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio with a Bachelor Degree in Physical Education. In 1987, she continued her education and graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1988 with a Masters degree in Sports Medicine. Ellen taught and coached in the Brazosport Independent School District, which is in southern Brazoria County Texas for a number of years. She joined First Baptist Church in Lake Jackson and made many lifelong friends, continuing in her love of team sports. She earned the nickname of "Ram Tough" from her days as a softball catcher while attending Colorado State University. Ellen joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in 1988 after completing her Discipleship Training School on the mercy ship M/V Anastasis. She began serving as a YWAM missionary in Salem, Oregon with Slavic Ministries. In 1996, she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she served as a missionary teacher and a teacher of missionary teachers both in Colorado Springs and in many nations around the world. She had a deep love for the nations Nepal, Macedonia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and their people groups. Ellen touched thousands of lives through her Christian missionary work and teaching. She is remembered and loved by her friends, loved ones and relatives she has left behind. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Youth With A Mission or Springs Rescue Mission. Memorial Service, 10:00AM, Friday, August 19, 2022, Boulder Street Church, 828 East Boulder Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.Inurnment, Garden of Memories Memorial Park, �5205 S First St, Lufkin, Texas 75901. Events Memorial Service Friday, August 19, 2022 10:00AM Boulder Street Church 828 East Boulder Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3106 Phone: 719-475-0224