12/14/2025
Born on April 16, 1941 in Craigsville, WV, Ira Roosevelt Phillips (84) of Craigsville, West Virginia passed away peacefully at his Craigsville home at Beaver Mills on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 4:15 a.m. after a yearlong health battle that included Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma (stomach cancer). His body now returns to the dust of the Earth as his spirit is reunited with God the life giver (Ecclesiastes 12:7) while he awaits the glorious return of Jesus at the end of the age to remain with Him for eternity (Thessalonians 4:17).
Papadopoulos or papa, as he was affectionately and lovingly referred, led a blessed and tenured life as an incredible son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. There was no one more patient, kind, loving, dedicated and hardworking than he. A few of the family’s favorite memories include: his made from scratch yellow cakes with blueberries picked from the backyard; passing baseball with his children and grandchildren in the front yard; the exhaustive and meticulous attention to detail and hard work he put into taking care of Beaver Mills for 33 years; traveling to horseshoe tournaments with him and proudly cheering on his unmatched talent and many, many wins (once coming back from a 0-20 deficit); the countless hours of baseball and other sports watched over the years; his impressive well of baseball history, knowledge and stats and his love for W***y Mays and the San Francisco Giants; and the love and dedication he showed to our family and mom throughout the years, especially during mom's seven plus year battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). His most important legacy will be that of a man of faith, born again and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. When God made him and mom, He truly gave them both Christ-like hearts.
Ira was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Ada Rena Tenney Phillips; his parents, Claybourne Garfield and Agnes Cadilla Phillips; brothers, Earl, Bearl, Emery, Paul, Carl, Roy and Brooks; brothers-in-law, Pumpkin Howell and Shirley Williams; sisters-in-law, Rose Phillips and Erma Peyatt; uncle, Edward Ellison; and lifelong childhood friend, Lloyd Barker.
Left to cherish his memory include: children, Tony (Juanita), Loretta (Kevin), Shelley, Charles, Lola and Matthew (Shelly); brother, Roger Phillips; sister, Rosetta Howell; 11 grandchildren, Dekota, Jade, Jami, Maranda (Levi), Laura (Brandon), Kynlee, Zachary (Courtney), Keaton, Robert, Aubryee and Mason; 9 great grandchildren, Braylynn, Brynnan, Ryder, Ashton, Abel, River, Claira, Lily and Grayson; brother-in-law, Charles Peyatt; sister-in-law, Dorothy Williams; and his beloved cockapoo, BabyLynn and two cats, Mustache and Sammie.
As your children, it has been the tremendous honor of our lives to have been raised by such wonderful parents, to have had an adult relationship, to have spent so much quality time and to have been able to support, just as the two of you have always supported us. Forever we will celebrate the great parents you were, the inspiration you've been to so many and the extraordinary lives you've lived! Thank you for your constant love, guidance and support over the years. We love you more than you'll ever know.
The viewing will be held on Thursday, December 18, 4-5 p.m. for family and 5-7 p.m. for the public. The funeral will be the following day on Friday, December 19 at 1 p.m. Both services will be held at the Gauley Mills Baptist Church in Camden on Gauley, WV and officiated by Pastors, Doug Pritt and Shawn Bragg. Immediately following the funeral, a reception hosted by Grace Church and Liberty Baptist Church will be held at Grace Church (11930 West Webster Road, Summersville, WV 26651).
Ira’s wishes were to be cremated – interment for both Ira and Ada will take place at a date to be determined in the Spring at West Virginia Memorial Gardens in Calvin, WV. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where Ira and Ada were donors since 1995 (www.stjude.org; 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; 1-800-805-5856). Papa loved and called the St. Jude kiddos his very own, as their many pictures are prominently displayed on the kitchen refrigerator.
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 5: 6-8
