Shirley Phipps

Shirley Phipps, age 95 of Cookeville, went home to be with his Lord, October 1, 2019, at Bethesda Health Care Center. He was born September 24, 1924 in Monterey, TN, to the late James Curtis and Malissie Bilbrey Phipps. Services will be held Sunday, October 6, 2019, 3:00 PM at Caney Fork Baptist Church, Cookeville, Tennessee. Interment with military honors will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery, also in Cookeville. Rev. Steve Thornton, Rev. Jeff Crabtree and Rev. Ben Crabtree will officiate. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 5, 5-8 p.m. at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home, and again Sunday, from 2 p.m. until service time, at the church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Geraldine Jackson Phipps, daughter-in-law, Sharon Diane Phipps, grandson, Chad Philip Crabtree, and three brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his daughters, Ronna (Mark) Johnson of Cookeville and Donna (Jeff) Crabtree of New Brunswick, Canada; son, Richard (Kay) Phipps of Knoxville; seven grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Shirley loved His Lord, and all those whoever met and knew him not only heard about Him, but also witnessed the walking image of Christ Jesus, Himself—A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS! He loved his church and church family and served them well since the day of his salvation at the age of 9. He was a loving and devoted husband to his wife Jerry, her constant caregiver until she passed away, as well as a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. Shirley proudly served his country in the US Navy during WWII, and the US Air Force during the Korean War. He retired from the U. S. Civil Service as a GS-13. His proudest moment was when he was promoted to the rank of Honorary Chief Petty Officer by the San Angelo, Texas Chiefs Association for his gallant service in the WWII Pacific Theater, aboard the destroyer escort USS Kenneth M. Willett. Pallbearers will be Eric Crabtree, Jason Phipps, Jonathon Phipps, Jim Gaw, Luke Thornton, and John Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Crabtree, Mark Johnson, Carl Brown, Mike Gillock, David Crow, John Sides, Bruce Nesmith, Cecil Essex and Don Weston. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Caney Fork Baptist Church building fund, 2404 Hwy 70 East, Cookeville, TN 38506, Welch College, P.O. Box 479, Gallatin, TN 37066, and/or St. Jude Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-6111. Share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com