OBITUARIES

As of Wednesday, May 31, 2023 
Cities without a state are in Missouri

OBITUARY

Glen DeGraffenreid

Aug. 12, 1946 – April 18, 2023

Glen Russell DeGraffenreid was born Aug. 12, 1946, in Webb City, the youngest of 10 children in a sweet and caring family. He died April 18, 2023, at the age of 76, at the Jack C. Montgomery Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Muskogee, Okla. The team at the VAMC and Complete Care Hospice graciously cared for Glen.

Glen was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force. He achieved the rank of Staff Sgt. and served at bases in New Jersey, Texas, Florida, and abroad at NATO’s Izmir Air Base in Turkey. After serving his country, Glen worked for the U.S. Postal Service and retired in Tulsa, Okla. He enjoyed taking walks, tinkering, and solving problems. During retirement, he lived at Prairie Rose Assisted Living and had many good memories and friends there.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bessie (Davidson) DeGraffenreid, and his sisters, Bernita Pence, Shirley Williams, and Susan Hunt, and brothers, Royal, Ray, Richard, Gerald, and Jack.

Mourning the loss of their Patriot is his sister, Mary Bohnstedt, of Webb City; his two sons, David DeGraffenreid and his wife Rontina, Winter Springs, Fla. and James DeGraffenreid, Fredrick, Md.; three grandchildren, Alex, Aurora and David Wilde; many nieces and nephews; and longtime friend Anne Lane.

Glen will be interned at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, with military honors, near his parents in Mount Hope Cemetery. Serenity Funeral Home, of Tulsa is handling the arrangements.

OBITUARY

Robert Phillips

Jan. 29, 1938 – May 25, 2023

Robert Lewis Phillipps, 85, of Webb City went to be with the Lord Thursday, May 25. He was born in Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 29, 1938, to Glenn and Pauline Phillips. The family moved to Webb City in 1945.

Robert was a 1957 graduate of Webb City High School and was a U.S. Army veteran. He served four years as a paratrooper in the Army. He served 16 years in the National Guard, including his service as a chaplain’s assistant from 1990-91 in Operation Desert Storm. He retired at the rank of E6.

Survivors include his wife of eight years, Jeaneane Veatch Chaney Phillips; two older brothers, Richard and Howard; three sons, Randy, Mike and Danny; daughter Kelley Samuel; and five grandchildren.

Robert was a member of the First Christian Church of Webb City and loved studying the Bible. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 5, at the First Christian Church, 219 S. Webb St., with visitation before the service at 10 a.m.

OBITUARY

Phyllis Riddle

July 9, 1929 – May 24, 2023

Phyllis L. Riddle, 93, of Webb City, departed this life on Wednesday evening, May 24, 2023, at Webb City Health and Rehabilitation, after a long illness.

Phyllis entered this life on July 9, 1929, in Stella. She was a longtime resident of the Webb City area. She was a nurses aide throughout her life, working in various nursing homes as well as in home care.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and five children, Danny Riddle, Steve Riddle, Donald Riddle, Linda Merida and Vick Hopkins.

Phyllis is survived by her four children, Larry Cook of Carterville, Debbie Ledford of Webb City, Johnny Riddle of the state of Texas and Tommy Riddle of Joplin; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

Graveside services were held Wednesday in Webb City Cemetery, with Pastor Ben Johnson officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home.

OBITUARY

Jim Van Hoose

Nov. 27, 1934 – May 25, 2023

James “Jim” Benson Van Hoose was born Nov. 27, 1934, in Joplin, the son of Alton LeRoy and Ala Louise (Clark) Van Hoose. He went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Thursday, May 25, in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the age of 88.

Jim was raised in Webb City, where he graduated from Webb City High School in 1952. He then received an appointment to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He was proud to have graduated in the class of 1958. One of the highlights of Jim’s life was attending his Naval Academy reunions.

Jim married Marilyn Mae Mullins on July 18, 1958, after dating only three weeks. Jim served as a lieutenant in the Navy, where he flew an A4D Skyhawk Attack Bomber off of aircraft carriers. In 1963, with three young boys and a wife at home, Jim decided to raise a family utilizing his engineering degree. He loaded up the family and moved to OKC to start a succesful career with Trane Hvac. In 1980 Jim founded Van Hoose Construction, serving as the president until retiring in 2007.

Jim and his family were longtime members of Central Presbyterian Church and later they were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. In retirement, Jim and Marilyn enjoyed spending winters at their home in Fort Myers, Fla.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Martha Jean Van Hoose, Jane Benson and her husband, Bruce; and his great-grandson, Mason Coon.

Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marilyn; his sons, Scott Van Hoose and his wife Susan, Greg Van Hoose and Jeff Van Hoose and his wife, Courtney; his daughter, Marylynn Hisey and her husband Brent; his grandchildren, Nichelle Churchwell (Clayton), Matt Van Hoose (Tram), Jennifer Young (Josh), Sydney Coon (Jana), Griffin Van Hoose, Grant Van Hoose (Carrie), Jane Van Hoose, Bailey Norris, Reagan Hisey, Erin Hisey (Matt Kearney), Hayden Hisey; and his great grandchildren, Anthony Churchwell, Tristan Coon, Jett Coon, Alden Kearney and Jade Van Hoose.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, at Vondel Smith Mortuary. Following the service the family will receive friends at the Greens Country Club. A private family inurnment will be in Rose Hill Burial Park.

Memorials may be made to Salvation Army of Central Oklahoma, 1001 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73107 or The Meadows, 1000 South Kelly, Edmond, OK 73003-6081.

The Family would like to express their gratitude to Bellevue Nursing and Rehab Center as well as Lifecare Hospice for the wonderful care they gave Jim.