Obituary of Rodney Lamar Skinner

Mr. Rodney Lamar Skinner, 85, of Ariton, died Sunday, November 7, 2021 at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 12, 2021, at Ariton United Methodist Church with Reverend Greg Brown, Reverend Anita Brown, and his son, Reverend Richard Skinner officiating. Interment will follow in Universalist Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at Ariton United Methodist Church Friday, November 12, 2021, from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Skinner was born August 4, 1936 in Dale County to the late Talmer Skinner and Effie Paulk Skinner. He was a member of Ariton United Methodist Church and active in the community serving on the Ariton Water Board for 16 years. Mr. Skinner’s early career included working with H. C. (Hack) Jordan Bridge Construction and C.F. Halstead Construction before joining Tom Wilson in 1964 in his custom home construction business. Rodney took over the family construction business building over a hundred custom homes, businesses and public buildings in the Wiregrass from 1972 through 2005 including the Ariton United Methodist Church. Mr. Skinner continued to work part-time with Randy Carr Construction after his retirement. His love for gardening and working the earth continued for many years as did his reminiscing and retelling tall tales of growing up with Lomax Robinette and Garrett Beasley. Mr. Skinner was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary Catherine Wilson Skinner; his parents Talmer Skinner and Effie Paulk Skinner; and three sisters and brothers-in-law, Lillian Skinner Wilson (James), Marjorie Skinner Phillips (Hubert), Sharon Skinner Peters (Ross). Survivors include four children, son, Ronnie Lee Skinner and Molly Beth Skinner of Adamsville, TN; daughter, Lydia Skinner McClendon and Phillip Kirkland McClendon Sr. of Birmingham, son, William Barry Skinner and Jodi Crick Skinner of Arab, and son, Richard Thomas Skinner and Dana Marie Skinner of Jefferson, TX; twelve grandchildren, Michael Thomas Skinner, Sean Patrick Skinner, Nathan Lee Skinner, Ashley Dawn Gagyi (Derek), Brandy Campbell (Derek), Madeline Laure McClendon McEwen (Chris), Mary Catherine McClendon Clements (Robby), Phillip Kirkland McClendon Jr. (Ashton), Shane William Skinner, Victoria Rae Skinner Copen (Justin), Joshua Corin Skinner, and Hannah Elizabeth Skinner; seven great-grandchildren, Austin Campbell, Emma Campbell, Tucker Campbell, Piper Gagyi, Presley Gagyi, Barrett McEwen, and Bo Clements. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ariton United Methodist Church, at 1327 Hwy 51, Ariton, Alabama 36311. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Skinner, Sean Skinner, Nathan Skinner, Shane Skinner, Kirkland McClendon Jr., Joshua Skinner, Robby Clements, Justin Copen. Honorary pallbearer will be Lomax Robinette. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Ariton United Methodist Church, at 1327 Hwy 51, Ariton, Alabama 36311.