Elbert Lee Phillips' Obituary
Elbert Lee Phillips, 92, formally of Double Oak, TX, Passed Away Peacefully On Friday January 16th 2015. Elbert Was Born In Elk Park, North Carolina To Edward And Elizabeth Phillips On January 29th, 1922. Survivors Include His Son, Hodge and his wife Debra, Brothers, Pink, Plug, Jerry And Jackie, Sisters, Francis, Nancy And Lynda, his Grandchildren Lee and Hilary, A Great-Grandson Ryland Lee And Many Nieces And Nephews.
Growing up in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, Elbert began working at an early age. He would travel from Cranbury, NC to Elizabethton, TN riding Tweetsie RR each day to work at the rayon plant. Later during WWII, after 3 unsuccessful attempts to join the Army due to health concerns, he worked in Detroit assembling tanks for the armed forces. Returning back to NC in the 1950s, he began working in the trucking industry hauling furniture and assisting in restaurants operated by his in-laws. Later, he and his wife Clara, would own and operate their own restaurant in Lenior (The Kentwood) for many years until retiring in Salisbury, NC to assist raising their grandchildren, Lee and Hilary Phillips.
But his true love was blue grass music. He became a local musician with several blue grass bands, playing for many years all over NC and Tennessee. Later he would become a true advocate for and promotor of blue grass and folk music. He held the first Blue Grass Festivals in the area, bringing professional musicians to the annual gatherings in Burke and Caldwell Counties for many years.
Upon moving to Texas in 1993, he continued to fulfill the role of “PopPaw” to all the friends of his grandchildren, always entertaining with his musical talents and sense of humor. Additionally he enjoyed watching his grandchildren become adults and proud that both of them had found such wonderful life partners, Hilary with Eddie Garton and Lee with Kendall Robinson.
His last great achievement was fulfilling the role of Great PopPaw for his great grandson, Ryland Lee Garton.
The Family Of Elbert Lee Phillips Wishes To Say Thank You For All Of Your Support During These Difficult Times. He Was A Special Part Of Our Family Who Will Live On Forever In Our Hearts. He Was Blessed With So Many Great Friends. We Want To Express Our Heart-Felt Gratitude And Say Thank You To Each One Of You For Making This Difficult Time A Little Easier. Your Support, Kindness and Condolences Mean So Much to Us. Now go listen to some Bluegrass in his Honor.
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