Donald c. phelps

Donald C. Phelps, 87, of Greene, went Home peacefully on May 15, 2014. He was born at 16 Birdsall Street, Greene, NY on November 27, 1926 to the late Lawrence B. and Ethel (Smith) Phelps. He is survived by his wife, Joan Simmonds Phelps; children, Donna (John) Whitbeck, Mark (Susan) Phelps, Jill Phelps, Gwyn (Scott) Richards and foster daughter Tina (Don) Orlopp; grandchildren, Adam (Michelle) Whitbeck, Johanna (Scott) Irving, Nate (Cristina) Phelps, Josh Phelps, Aaron Phelps, Ryan Lott, Marcus Phelps, Daniel Phelps, Kristi (Mark) Hartwig and Curtis Richards; great-grandchildren, Laura and Seth Whitbeck, Kali Irving and Emily and Christopher Phelps; sister, Alice Smith; sister-in-law, Dorothy Phelps; brother-in-law, Donald (Alayne) Simmonds; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Burr L. Phelps.
He graduated from Greene Central School and served his country in the United States Army during World War II in Germany. He worked for the telephone company for 41 years, beginning as an installer and retiring as an engineer. He was one of the founders and builders of Berean Bible Church in Greene, and served there in many ways for the rest of his life. He was a "Jack of Most Trades, Master of One", having done many handy man jobs in the Greene area in his retirement years. He was an excellent woodworker and passed on his furniture building skills and other knowledge to his children and grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Berean Bible Church in Greene on June 1st at 2:00 p.m. with calling hours to follow at 3:00. Burial will be in South Street Cemetery, Triangle, NY at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Greene Community Services for "Link to Life" at P.O. Box 388, Greene, NY 13778 or Berean Bible Church Building Fund, 109 County Road 2, Greene, NY 13778. Arrangements have been entrusted to Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main Street, Oxford.