Hayward LaReau Phillips, Sr., known by most as “Toad”, age 89 years, a former resident of Parsons, WV and for the past year a resident of Princeton, WV departed this life Thursday morning, July 6, 2017 at the Princeton Health Care Center at Princeton, WV.
He was born Thursday, April 19, 1928 at Parsons, WV, a son of the late Joe and Hazel Ann Plum Phillips. On June 23, 1953 at Tazewell, VA, he was married to the former Mary Ann Dickerson, who survives.
Also surviving are one son, Hayward LaReau Phillips, Jr. and wife Jane of Chesapeake, VA; one daughter, Melody Ann Phillips-Williams and husband Douglas of Williamstown, WV; one sister Ann Isner of Kingsport, TN; one grandson, Thurman Kyle Phillips and wife Courtney of Chesapeake, VA; and one step-grandson, Mike Payette of Chesapeake, VA; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are two brothers, James Dale “Jim” Phillips, Sr., and “Buck” Verus Phillips; and two sisters, Dorotha Lazur and Avinelle Purdy.
He was a Veteran of the United States Navy during WWII, where he was stationed in Norway as Seaman First Class. While serving, Hayward received the Victory Medal, American Theatre Ribbon and Pacific Theatre Ribbon. He was a graduate of Parsons High School upon his return from the Navy. He worked various construction companies, including Keely Construction, Calvin Construction, R.H. Armstrong, Harman Brothers, and Coal Train Construction, among others. He worked for the West Virginia Dept. of Highways as Superintendent, and he was employed at Civil Tech Engineering. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Parsons, the Tucker Co. Development Authority, and was instrumental in developing and constructing the 1985 Flood Memorial in Parsons. Besides his work, he enjoyed gardening, hunting, working around the house, woodworking and he was also involved in local politics.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons, WV on Tuesday, from 5 to 8 PM. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 11 AM. The Rev. James Snyder will officiate and interment will follow at the Bethel Cemetery at Holly Meadows, where the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Guard, the H.W. Daniels Post #29 American Legion, the Tygart Valley Post #3647 Veterans of Foreign War and the Tucker Co. Veterans Assoc. will conduct Full Military honors.
The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Hayward LaReau Phillips, Sr. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com
