Willie White Phillips, Sr.

Willie White Phillips, Sr., 90, of Statesville, passed away Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Gordon Hospice House. He was born on January 16, 1927 in Polk County to the late Thomas Romeo Phillips and Annie Ola Wilson Phillips. He was the last surviving son of eleven children. Willie was a graduate of Spindale High School in Rutherford and enlisted in the U.S Army in 1945. He made a career in the military and served his country honorably during WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army in 1970. After his retirement, Willie was an owner/operator of a small guttering business for a number of years. On October 20, 1979, he married Charlotte Craver Keever Phillips, who survives. They enjoyed over 38 years of marriage before his passing. Willie was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and had been a member of the VFW and DAV. He was affectionally known as "Greatgan" by his grandchildren and will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Charlotte; son, Willie Phillips, Jr. (Lynn) and their daughter, Kate and sons, Mark (Liz) and Tom; son Bob Phillips and his two sons, Zach and Elliott; stepdaughter, Kathy Martin and her son Wesley (Kristi), and daughters, Emily Gatton (Jody) and Lindsay Martin; stepdaughter, Pam Naylor (Jimmy); and four great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held 3:00 pm Sunday, June 25, 2017 at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church with Revs. Chris Fitzgerald and Gervace Hitch officiating. The family will visit with friends after the service. There will be a private graveside service with military rites provided by the Iredell County Veterans Burial Detail held prior at Oakwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made the Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or to Wesley UMC, 825 Wesley Drive, Statesville, NC 28677. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.