Phillip E. Ayers, 93, of Jacksonville, formerly of Effingham, was peacefully relocated to Heaven at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug.5, 2015, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
A service celebrating Phil's life will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Effingham Bible Church in Effingham with the Rev. Chris Shimboff officiating. Burial will be in Cisne Cemetery with Military Rites.
Phillip was born on Feb. 22, 1922, in Wayne County, the son of Marcus Carl and Elsie Merle (Pennington) Ayers. He married Lois Louise Dille in 1941, and she survives. Phil met Lois while he was working at Firestone in Akron, Ohio. In 1942, Phil was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Camp Beale, Calif., for Basic Training in General Patton's 13th Armored Division. He was assigned to C Troop of the 93rd Cavalry as a Division Scout. Phil's outfit arrived in LaHavre, France on Jan. 29, 1945, and moved throughout France, Belgium, Germany and Austria fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and liberating Mauthausen-Gausen, a work camp in Austria. On May 2, Phil's outfit arrived at Branau am Inn, Austria. Phil's outfit arrived back home not long after at Camp Cook, Calif.
In July 2009, Phil participated in the Honor Flight Program. He, along with his brother Jay, and a number of other World War II veterans, flew to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial.
Following the war, Phil went to Eastern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education. He completed graduate school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
Phil's first job was as a junior high school teacher in Cisne. He was hired at Edgewood and finally went to Effingham to teach. He has worn many hats through the years besides teacher. Among his jobs were coach, driver's education teacher, administrator, school bus driver, umpire, referee, pool manager, tobacco shop clerk, township commissioner and driver for Northside Ford (until he turned 90).
Phil is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Lois Ayers of Jacksonville; son Carl "Buck" (wife Susie) Ayers of Verona, Ky.; daughter, Tammy (husband Tom) Guthrie of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Robert (wife Patty) Ayers of Independence, Ky., and Lois Lynette (Guthrie) Cervi of Jacksonville; great-grandchildren, Carrie, Kiely and Abby Ayers of Independence, Ky.; and brother J.R. (wife Betty) Ayers of Cisne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Doris Audrey DeSelms.
A service celebrating Phil's life will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Effingham Bible Church in Effingham with the Rev. Chris Shimboff officiating. Burial will be in Cisne Cemetery with Military Rites.
Phillip was born on Feb. 22, 1922, in Wayne County, the son of Marcus Carl and Elsie Merle (Pennington) Ayers. He married Lois Louise Dille in 1941, and she survives. Phil met Lois while he was working at Firestone in Akron, Ohio. In 1942, Phil was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Camp Beale, Calif., for Basic Training in General Patton's 13th Armored Division. He was assigned to C Troop of the 93rd Cavalry as a Division Scout. Phil's outfit arrived in LaHavre, France on Jan. 29, 1945, and moved throughout France, Belgium, Germany and Austria fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and liberating Mauthausen-Gausen, a work camp in Austria. On May 2, Phil's outfit arrived at Branau am Inn, Austria. Phil's outfit arrived back home not long after at Camp Cook, Calif.
In July 2009, Phil participated in the Honor Flight Program. He, along with his brother Jay, and a number of other World War II veterans, flew to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial.
Following the war, Phil went to Eastern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education. He completed graduate school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
Phil's first job was as a junior high school teacher in Cisne. He was hired at Edgewood and finally went to Effingham to teach. He has worn many hats through the years besides teacher. Among his jobs were coach, driver's education teacher, administrator, school bus driver, umpire, referee, pool manager, tobacco shop clerk, township commissioner and driver for Northside Ford (until he turned 90).
Phil is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Lois Ayers of Jacksonville; son Carl "Buck" (wife Susie) Ayers of Verona, Ky.; daughter, Tammy (husband Tom) Guthrie of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Robert (wife Patty) Ayers of Independence, Ky., and Lois Lynette (Guthrie) Cervi of Jacksonville; great-grandchildren, Carrie, Kiely and Abby Ayers of Independence, Ky.; and brother J.R. (wife Betty) Ayers of Cisne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Doris Audrey DeSelms.
Phillip E. Ayers, 93, of Jacksonville, formerly of Effingham, was peacefully relocated to Heaven at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug.5, 2015, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
A service celebrating Phil's life will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Effingham Bible Church in Effingham with the Rev. Chris Shimboff officiating. Burial will be in Cisne Cemetery with Military Rites.
Phillip was born on Feb. 22, 1922, in Wayne County, the son of Marcus Carl and Elsie Merle (Pennington) Ayers. He married Lois Louise Dille in 1941, and she survives. Phil met Lois while he was working at Firestone in Akron, Ohio. In 1942, Phil was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Camp Beale, Calif., for Basic Training in General Patton's 13th Armored Division. He was assigned to C Troop of the 93rd Cavalry as a Division Scout. Phil's outfit arrived in LaHavre, France on Jan. 29, 1945, and moved throughout France, Belgium, Germany and Austria fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and liberating Mauthausen-Gausen, a work camp in Austria. On May 2, Phil's outfit arrived at Branau am Inn, Austria. Phil's outfit arrived back home not long after at Camp Cook, Calif.
In July 2009, Phil participated in the Honor Flight Program. He, along with his brother Jay, and a number of other World War II veterans, flew to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial.
Following the war, Phil went to Eastern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education. He completed graduate school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
Phil's first job was as a junior high school teacher in Cisne. He was hired at Edgewood and finally went to Effingham to teach. He has worn many hats through the years besides teacher. Among his jobs were coach, driver's education teacher, administrator, school bus driver, umpire, referee, pool manager, tobacco shop clerk, township commissioner and driver for Northside Ford (until he turned 90).
Phil is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Lois Ayers of Jacksonville; son Carl "Buck" (wife Susie) Ayers of Verona, Ky.; daughter, Tammy (husband Tom) Guthrie of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Robert (wife Patty) Ayers of Independence, Ky., and Lois Lynette (Guthrie) Cervi of Jacksonville; great-grandchildren, Carrie, Kiely and Abby Ayers of Independence, Ky.; and brother J.R. (wife Betty) Ayers of Cisne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Doris Audrey DeSelms.
A service celebrating Phil's life will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Effingham Bible Church in Effingham with the Rev. Chris Shimboff officiating. Burial will be in Cisne Cemetery with Military Rites.
Phillip was born on Feb. 22, 1922, in Wayne County, the son of Marcus Carl and Elsie Merle (Pennington) Ayers. He married Lois Louise Dille in 1941, and she survives. Phil met Lois while he was working at Firestone in Akron, Ohio. In 1942, Phil was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Camp Beale, Calif., for Basic Training in General Patton's 13th Armored Division. He was assigned to C Troop of the 93rd Cavalry as a Division Scout. Phil's outfit arrived in LaHavre, France on Jan. 29, 1945, and moved throughout France, Belgium, Germany and Austria fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and liberating Mauthausen-Gausen, a work camp in Austria. On May 2, Phil's outfit arrived at Branau am Inn, Austria. Phil's outfit arrived back home not long after at Camp Cook, Calif.
In July 2009, Phil participated in the Honor Flight Program. He, along with his brother Jay, and a number of other World War II veterans, flew to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial.
Following the war, Phil went to Eastern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education. He completed graduate school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
Phil's first job was as a junior high school teacher in Cisne. He was hired at Edgewood and finally went to Effingham to teach. He has worn many hats through the years besides teacher. Among his jobs were coach, driver's education teacher, administrator, school bus driver, umpire, referee, pool manager, tobacco shop clerk, township commissioner and driver for Northside Ford (until he turned 90).
Phil is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Lois Ayers of Jacksonville; son Carl "Buck" (wife Susie) Ayers of Verona, Ky.; daughter, Tammy (husband Tom) Guthrie of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Robert (wife Patty) Ayers of Independence, Ky., and Lois Lynette (Guthrie) Cervi of Jacksonville; great-grandchildren, Carrie, Kiely and Abby Ayers of Independence, Ky.; and brother J.R. (wife Betty) Ayers of Cisne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Doris Audrey DeSelms.
Inscription
MARRIED DEC. 22, 1941
TEC 5 US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
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