John H. Phipps' Obituary
Arcola-Mr. John H. Phipps, age 91, passed away on Monday, February 3, 2014 at Arcola Health Center in Arcola, IL, after 6 years of convalescent care in that facility.
John was born September 27, 1922 in Greencastle, IN, and he was the second son of Earnest Edgar Phipps and Susie Victoria (Miller) Phipps, of Greencastle, IN. All of his siblings preceded him.
John was married to Inola Irene(Sitting Down) Phipps and they begot seven children, all of whom are still alive. Inola predeceased her husband of after 60 years of marriage.
John and Inola made their home for over 50 years in Oakley, IL, in a home they built on 80 acres which he farmed and their children grew up on.
He also, in addition to farming and growing corn and soybeans, worked as a loader for A. E. Staley Manufacturing in Decatur, IL for 27 years.
He enjoyed hunting and he created hand-made metal fabricated aluminum & copper tubing objects which include a prized family heirloom chess set. His son, Frank Evan Phipps, taught his father how to play chess.
Mr. Phipps enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, and served honorably until 1946. He was a maintenance instructor and took great pride in supporting the war effort in WWII. He was an E-6 Staff Sergeant.
He is survived by his first daughter, Ellen Peredetto of Morris, IL, and her four children; a first son, Frank E. Phipps of Dover, PA, and his wife Mary, and Frank’s 3 children, and Mary’s 2 children; his second son, John Wesley Phipps of Linden, IN, and three sons; third son, Phillip Phipps, of Omaha, NE, and a wife Kathy, and their three children; Kathy Earles of Cerro Gordo and her husband Michael and their four children; another daughter, Laura Jane Maier and her husband Ron of Decatur, IL, and their daughter, and several great-grandchildren; and a fourth daughter, Colleen Marie Phipps Cochran of Colorado Springs, CO, and her husband David and their four children.
A graveside service to celebrate John’s life will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2014 where John will have his cremated remains interred on the family plot at Macon County Memorial Park beside his wife Inola.
The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to everyone who shared their love and affection for John while he was a resident of Arcola Health Center. Love lasts forever.
The family of John H. Phipps has entrusted the care of their loved one to Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2801 N. Monroe Street, Decatur, IL. Send condolences to the family at www.moranandgoebel.com.
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