Franklin ‘Frank’ Phipps

Franklin “Frank” Phipps, 90, a 60-plus-year resident of Bainbridge, passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

He was born in Greencastle on Dec. 10, 1928 to Homer and Malinda Phipps.

He graduated from Bridgeton’s one-room school house, the only senior in his class.

He served in the Korean War in the artillery division in 1951 and ’52 and was a lifetime member of Roachdale’s VFW.

He worked at the Bainbridge elevator in the ’50s and ’60s and later PDM welding. Years later he retired.

He loved throwing horseshoes, deer hunting, hunting mushrooms, fishing and dancing.

Friendly with everyone, he would do anything he could. He stayed busy by helping anyone who needed something fixed, welded, built or looked at. He recently took up bowling with his wife and friends in Florida.

He was a loving husband, father, papaw, brother and uncle.

He married Zelma “Zap” Royse in 1953 until her passing in 2008. He moved to Florida in 2014 and married Donna Black on Dec. 24, 2015. She survives.

He is survived by his children, Lewis of Bainbridge, Deronda (Kent) Evens of Cloverdale, David (Ophelia) of Texas and Kay Batty (significant other Steve Baxter) of Florida; grandkids Misti Phipps, Wesley Phipps, Josh (Athena) Gross, Jada (Bryan) Mullins, Jason Evens, Briana (Andrew) Moore, Royse Smith and Zelma Phipps; sisters Elsie (Buc) Ooley, Carrie Hartman and Mary (Earl) Turner; brothers Michael and Norman; brothers-in-law Glenn Lesley and Bob Walton; and great-grandkids, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Zelma; sister Ocie Staggs; brothers Homer Earl, Gene and James; brothers-in-law Jesse Royse, Randall Staggs and Jack Hartman; and sisters-in-law Marie Royse, Vera Leslie and Teeby Walton.

Burial will be in the fall in Bainbridge with military honors, and there will be a celebration of life following.