Arnold Roy “Sockum” Phillips Sr., 72, a resident of Parsons, departed this life Saturday evening, July 27, 2002, at his home. He had been in declining health and death was attributed to cancer.
He was born Feb. 13, 1930, at Hambleton, a son of the late George W. Phillips and Gladys Peggy Bright Phillips.
On May 7, 1951, at Baltimore, Md., he was married to the former Cora Ann Kelly, who survives. They celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Also surviving are one son, Nathan Dale Phillips and wife, Alma, Parsons; one daughter, Beverly Ann Rosier and husband, Robert “Bud,” Clover Run; five brothers, Denver “Bud” Phillips and wife, Pauline, Holly Meadows, Orland “Poncho” Phillips and wife, Roberta, Parsons, Dale “Buckskin” Phillips, Montrose, Bobby Phillips and wife, Anita, Blackman Heights, and Harold Phillips and wife, Judy, Holly Meadows; two sisters, Virginia Yokum, Morgantown, and Irene Knotts, Blackman Heights; 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, Arnold Roy “Ziffle” Phillips Jr., who preceded him in death on Feb. 14, 2002; two sisters, Mary Ann and Doris Jane Phillips.
He attended the schools of Parsons. He worked for the former Dryer Box Company and Bethlehem Steel at Baltimore, Md., the former Dorman Mills of Parsons and the Parsons Tannery for 23 years and retired from the Parsons Footwear in 1992. He was a member of the former Moose Lodge of Parsons and attended the Mackeyville Community Church. He had a great love for the outdoors and was known for his gardens.
The family will receive friends at Barb & Greenlief Funeral Home from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Pastor Pat Cassidy will officiate and interment will follow at the Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman.
