Orvin Franklin Phipps, 91

Orvin Franklin Phipps passed away Dec. 21, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo.

Services were held at the Sheffeld Family Life Center in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 27, 2011. The interment with military honors was in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Orvin was born March 7, 1920, to William Franklin and Annabelle Hamby Phipps, of Smallett, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents; two siblings that died in infancy, sisters Lela Phipps Bunyard and Venita Phipps Williams.

He is survived by his wife, Marti; four children, Darla Cain, Daniel Phipps, David Burress and Diane Caudillo; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Theta Phipps Johns.

Orvin was born and raised in and around Ava, Mo. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, the late Alfred and Joanna Bon Frye Hamby, as his parents died at an early age. He served during World War II in the Army and fought in the war against Japan in the Pacific.

He was a fireman for the Oklahoma City Fire Department and spent time self-employed in the Kansas City area. He was the international director for Full Gospel Business Men and the president of the Heart of America Chapter. He was a Christian and his greatest desire was to share his faith. He was the author of the book, “The Final Hours.”