ELKHART -- Franklin Delano "Frank" Phillips, 74, of Elkhart, died Thursday, July 10, 2008, at 2:24 p.m. in Greencroft Healthcare, Goshen.

He was born Dec. 30, 1933, in Hansford, W.Va., to John Henry and Stella Jewel (Grace) Phillips. Frank married Etherial S. "Buzz" Foster on July 11, 1955, in Glasgow, W.Va.

His wife, Buzz Phillips, survives along with one son, Franklin Dee (Karen Kay) Phillips of Elkhart; three grandchildren, Dreama Phillips, Ginger Phillips and Frankie Phillips; two great-grandchildren, Keith Powell and Destiny Phillips; one sister, Jo Ann Patton of Montgomery, W.Va.; and two half-brothers, Robert (Ruby) Ballard of Elkhart and Jimmie (Crystal) Randolph of Carson, Va.

Franklin was preceded in death by one brother and five sisters.

Frank was an independent truck driver for many years. He led a storied life, having worked on the C&O Railroad (Chesapeake and Ohio) before enlisting in the United States Army, where he served as a paratrooper with the 522nd Armored Engineering Co. during the Korean War, serving from 1952 until his honorable discharge in 1956.

He earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Paratrooper Badge and was a member of the American Legion. He also worked in the timber industry as a lumberjack for a time and in the local RV industry.

Frank enjoyed stock-car racing and was a fixture on the local circuit for many years, racing at New Paris, South Bend and Mottville, Mich., speedways.

Even though he had only one son and his own grandchildren and great-grandchildren who he loved dearly, he and Buzz were thought of as grandpa and grandma by many of the neighborhood kids who they watched grow up as well.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.. Monday (July 14, 2008) at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where friends also may call for one hour prior to the 1 p.m. Tuesday (July 15, 2008) funeral service at the funeral home. Pastor Davis K. Webster of Zion Assembly Church of God will officiate. Burial and graveside services will follow in Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart, where military honors will be rendered by the United States Army Burial Honors Detail and Elkhart DAV Chapter 19.

Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences