07/22/2008
Robert Leland Phipps was born Dec. 25, 1928, at Knoxville, Iowa, the son of Andrew and Ariel (Wright) Phipps. He died July 22, 2008, at Colonial Springs Healthcare Center, Buffalo, MO, at the age of 79 years, 6 months and 27 days.
He was united in marriage with Mary Neill on July 19, 1955, and three children were part of this union.
During the Korean War, he served his country in the U.S. Army in the 584 Mash Unit. He was a member of the VFW.
He owned and operated a nursing home in Urbana and served as president of the Missouri Rest Home Association.
He served as mayor of Urbana from 1977 to 1981, and later worked for the Dallas County R-I Schools.
He was a member of the Buffalo First Assembly of God Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; a son, Gary; and a grandson, Eddie.
Survivors include his son, Ed, Urbana; a daughter, Janet Prins, Jasper; his sister, Dorothy Niccum, Iowa; six grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Escorts were David Anderson, Riley Bell, Sean Couch, Frank Dryer, Steve Kenall and Doug Phipps. Honorary escorts were Ron Condren and Paul Weigel.
Services were 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16, in the First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Keith Pyles officiating.
Music was by the Rev. Pyles, who sang, "Be Thou My Vision" and "I Believe."
The organist was Rachel Worley. Burial with military rites by the Galmey VFW Post 9638 was in Mission Ridge Cemetery, under the direction of Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home of Buffalo.