Thomas J. Phipps, III
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Thomas J. Phipps III, 61, of East Fallowfield, Pa. went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 8, 2010 at the Brandywine Hospital in Caln Township, PA.
He was the beloved husband of Teresa Girafalco Phipps with whom he shared 34 years of marriage.
Born October 6, 1949 in West Chester, Pa., Thomas was the second of three children and the son of Thelma Conner Phipps of Lionville and the late Thomas J. Phipps, Jr.
A graduate of Downingtown High School, Thomas worked for Wyeth Laboratories in Great Valley for 41 years retiring in 2010. He served as Fire Chief while at Wyeth.
Thomas loved hunting, riding his Norton motorcycle, traveling, and spending time with his grandchildren.
He was a member of the Hephzibah Baptist Church in East Fallowfield where he served in numerous capacities including Trustee, Vacation Bible School and Usher. Thomas was also a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Atglen Sportsman Club and the Trego Hunting Camp.
Thomas is survived by his three children, Shelly (Scott) Ripley of Downingtown, Pa., Lynn Phipps - Corcoran (Steve) of Downingtown, and Michael Anderson (Jamelle) of East Fallowfield, PA. In addition, he is survived by six grandchildren. Also surviving Thomas are his sisters Diane Hershey of Lionville, Pa. and Judith Ammon of Lititz, Pa. and nieces and nephews.
Thomas loved his family very much and he will be dearly missed. He will always be remembered for his kindness, warmth and compassion for others. He will forever remain in the hearts and thoughts of all who knew and loved him.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral on Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m. at the Hephzibah Baptist Church, 2237 Strasburg Road, East Fallowfield, Pa, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Thomas' memory to the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania Cerebral Palsy Clinic, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg. Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com
Condolences
Dear Terry and family. I was
Dear Terry and family. I was very sad to hear about Tom. I just wanted to let you know that I send my deepest condolences to you. There is little one can say at a time like this to ease the pain. Your strong faith in the Lord will help you get through this as easy as possible. I will be saying a prayer for you and your faimly. God Bless You. Jim and Donna Shields.
I'm so sorry to have heard this
You meet a lot of people in life and rarely can you say that someone is special.
Tom was special, he was one of the nicest men I ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with. He will be missed but never forgotten.
My sympathies to Terry and family.
Deeply Saddend
I was fortunate to get to know Tom over the last 8 years while working with him at Wyeth. Words cannot express how deeply saddend I am for your loss.
God Bless
In deepest Sympathy
My thoughts and prayers go out to Terry and the family. I had the pleasure of working with Tom at Wyeth for many years. Tom had the nicest personality, smile and overall true beauty that I cannot put into words. He was a friend that will be truly missed. I was blessed to have known Tom and will cherish the fond memories we shared.
In deepest Sympathy
My thoughts and prayers go out to Terry and the family. I had the pleasure of working with Tom at Wyeth for many years. Tom had the nicest personality, smile and overall true beauty that I cannot put into words. He was a friend that will be truly missed. I was blessed to have known Tom and will cherish the fond memories we shared.
I am very sad to hear about
I am very sad to hear about Tom. He was a wonderful person for whom I had a great deal of respect. My condolences go out to you and your family. My family and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
God Bless You
Ed and Ana Lloyd
Memories are in your heart
My prayers and thoughts are with all the family
Growing up in eagle is were I first meet Tommy and went to school with Judy spent alot of time @ theit house by the turnpike. And then meeting Tom many years later @ Wyeth was surprising talked and laughed if you new Tom he was full of life and enjoyed. Tom will be missed dearly by all.
Today I Lost A Friend
Today I lost a friend. Sometime affectionately known as Chief. In him I felt a kindred spirit. Tom’s personality, speech and actions drew me and so many others to him. You didn’t have to talk to him very long to see he loved the Lord, he loved his family and he loved life. Today I truly lost a friend. God bless you Terry and family with you I look to see him again on the other side of glory.
You will be missed by all forever...
Tom, you were a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great brother-in-law. The family will miss your warmth, kindness, wisdom and the most special love you had for your lovely wife and our sister Terri. You were her rock and her heart pains for you. We both retired in 2010 and I had looked forward to growing old with you and telling each other about the latest projects and me of course asking you about how to repair things. In that regard, thanks for fixing my German Box Clock, the chimes had not worked since Thanksgiving and 22 hours after you passed, the clock is back chiming on the half and hour - thanks again my dear friend. Your love of children was only surpassed by your faith and love of GOD. Your six grandchildren will dearly miss you as will my son Kevin. Your unique blend of tease, kindness, sense of security and laughter was a chemistry that Katie and Megan in particular loved and cherished - you were the best grandfather no doubt! My sister Terri and the family are heartbroken, you left us too early - We will miss and celebrate your life forever. God Bless You Tom.
My Friend...
Tom will forever be in my thoughts as one of the many fellow workers at Wyeth that made my time at Great Valley a happy one. He was a good friend and confidant and will be missed greatly. He will live forever in my prayers.
Lou Alioto
I am so deeply sorry
I am a friend of Diane Hershey's and worked with her at Carol's Hallmark in Lionville. My sincerest condolences to the entire Phipps family. Marie Wright
In my prayers
Terry & family, You are in my thoughts and prayers during this time. I cannot put into words the sadness I felt when I heard of Tom's passing. I had the pleasure of working with Tom at Great Valley. He was truly a great friend. He will forever be remembered. Kathy
TOM PHIPPS
OUR FAMILY WENT TO DOWNINGTOWN H.S. TOGETHER. WE WILL MISS TOM AND KNOW HE THAT HE HAS TRULY 'GRADUATED'...CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT DAY AS WELL.
THE CASELLA FAMLY
for Terri
Terri - Michele & I were very saddened to hear of Tom's graduation and your inestimable loss but happy for him, nonetheless. What a prince of a fellow! They rarely make men like him anymore. We were unable to get to you at Hephzibah due to the line. Jeannie Herkins is in Florida on vacation and was similarly shocked to hear the news. She begged me to convey her sympathies to you.
In light of all the turmoil in the world today, perhaps Isaiah 57:1 would be an appropriate verse for you to consider.
Remember that you have a standing invitation to visit us at church. We have since moved to Coatesville. Jeannie can tell you how to get there, if you ever want to come out.
Keep the faith. Rick & Michele McGovern
To Terry asnd family
You have my sincer condolence on the loss of your husband father and grandfather. Tommy was truly a very nice person and a pleasure to work with for all the years I was at Wyeth. I know he will be missed by all and Im sorry he didnt get to enjoy his retiremant for such a short time.I will keep the family in my prayers and God will easy your pain.