Obituary of Phillip Earl Phinny

Services for Phillip Earl "Sonny" Phinny, 90, Arp will be at 2 pm, Monday, December 12, at Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton, with Pastor Mike Rice officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in Mason Cemetery, Arp. Arrangements are under direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Mr. Phinny went home to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, December 8, 2016, in a hospital in Tyler. He was born December 26, 1925, in Chapman Ranch, Texas to the late Elvin Lorenzo and Mary Ellen Parish Phinny. He was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army, in which he served in the Infantry as a Rifleman. He was stationed in the U.S., Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes from March 1944 to October 1945. He received the EAME Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Unit Citation with Clusters. He married Vivian Louise Blanton on February 28, 1968, in Arp. He worked for Gulf State Lumber Company as an inside salesman and retired after more than 35 years. He was a member of the Lions Club and served on the Arp City Council from 1990 to 2000. He was a member of the Arp Baptist Church for 61 years and spent his spare time as a carpenter at his church. An avid golfer, he was a member of Overton Golf Club for many years. He was a faithful husband and father, always demonstrating integrity and hard work. Survivors include his wife Vivian Phinny of Arp; his children and their spouses John Phillip Phinny of Kingwood, Stephen and Pam Phinny of Longview, and Cheryl and Marcello Minotti of Sugar Land; grandchildren, Ryan Phinny, Megan Phinny, Caitlin Phinny, Zach Phinny, Joshua Minotti, Kathryn Minotti, and Liliana Minotti; two great-granddaughters, Larissa Phinny and Sadie Phinny; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. Pallbearers will be Jake Bradford, Jack Montgomery, Bill Steere, Rick Shirley, Charles Hicks, Joe Wilson, Charles Cook, and Joe Cooley. Honorary pallbearers include Bill Kitchings, Dale Brown, Marcello Minotti, Zach Phinny, Ryan Phinny, and Joshua Minotti. Visitation will be Sunday, December 11, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the funeral home.