Vestal Norris Phillips

Mr. Vestal Norris Phillips, 81, of 128 East Side Drive, Mount Airy, passed away Tuesday morning, May 27, 2008, at Northern Hospital of Surry County. He was born April 26, 1927, in Surry County, to the late Cager and Betty Nichols Phillips. He was veteran of the United States Navy, having served during World War II. He was retired from Pine State Knitwear and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Lois McKinney Phillips of the home; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Rachel Phillips, Robert and JoAnn McKinney, Don and Bonnie McKinney, Eddie McKinney, Sammy Overby, and Betty McKinney, all of Mount Airy, Morton and Wanda McKinney of Lowgap, and Charles and Jenny McKinney of Bedford, TX; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by a sister, Ethel Overby; two brothers, Johnson Phillips and William Phillips; his stepmother, Josie Phillips; and a brother-in-law, Merle McKinney. The funeral service will be held Thursday, May 29, 2008, at 1:30 PM at Calvary Baptist Church. The service will be conducted by Dr. Wayne Hager and the Rev. Todd E. Byrd, and burial will follow at Skyline Memory Gardens, with military rites conducted by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard Post 2019 of Mount Airy and Post 9436 of Pilot Mountain. The family will receive friends Thursday from 12:30 PM until the hour of the funeral service at Calvary Baptist Church. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030, or Calvary Baptist Church, 314 South Franklin Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. David Dixon, Dr. Marc Flickinger, and the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, especially Ruth Handy, Mike Fields, Carol Casstevens, Joy Hager, Dena Newman, and Amy Wilhelm for their love, care, and concern during Vestal's illness.