Chester Royce Phillips - 1926-2009
Chester Royce Phillips, 82, of Ashland, Ky., passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, in Woodland Oaks Health Care Facility in Ashland.
Mr. Phillips was born Sept. 1, 1926, in Peach Creek (Logan County), W.Va., a son of the late Alonzo and Pearl Raines Phillips.
He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Agnes Phillips in 1998; a stepson, Phillip G. White; a brother, Grady, formerly of The Dalles, Ore.; and a sister, Betty.
He retired from Armco Steel Co. with more than 30 years service as a crane operator at Semet Solvay. He was a World War II Army veteran.
Royce was a member of the 13th Street Freewill Baptist Church. He was a man of many hats, especially a cowboy hat. He was always found at the front door of the church, named the Official Greeter by the other members. He shook hands with everyone and was known to sing a solo from time to time, his favorite being Stand By Me. He sang with the Gospel Melody Boys for more than 30 years and after that with the Singing Servants. He raised over $13,000 dollars for the church, collecting aluminum cans, affectionately known as the can man.
Surviving are his wife, Delores Spurlock Phillips of Ashland; stepson, Kenneth Allen Byrd and his wife, Paula of Memphis, Tenn.; stepdaughter, Debbie Hatfield and her husband, Bob of St. Louis, Mo.; brother, Wetzel Phillips of Winchester, Ore.; and six grandchildren, Bambi Deitch of Ashland and Bunni (Jerry) Epling of Worthington, Ky., Charles Cerniglia of Lexington, Ky., and Daniel Chapman, Desiree White, and Phillip G. White II, all of Louisville, Ky. He was also survived by Rosie White of La Grange and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009 at 13th Street Freewill Baptist Church by the Rev. David McKinney and Dr. Lee Gussler. Burial will be in Bellefonte Memorial Gardens in Flatwoods, Ky. with military rites by American Legion Post 93 of Kenova, W.Va.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Steen Funeral Home-13th Street Chapel in Ashland and at noon Saturday at the church.
Friends may make contributions to Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.
Online condolences may be made to www.steenfuneralhomes.com
Pallbearers will be Jim Coburn, Todd Adkins, Harold Cooper, Ron Thompson, Ron Christian and Mike Robinson.
