Thelma Pirkle Phillips

Thelma Pirkle Phillips, 84, of Cleveland, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017.  She was a graduate of Bradley Central High School class of 1951 and was of the Baptist faith and attended both Bellefounte Baptist Church and First Baptist Church.  She had been employed by Woolworth’s 5 and 10, the Central Office of the Bradley County School system, and Cleveland Associated Industries.  She was a volunteer at Skyridge and Tennova hospital.  She had been a member of BridgeMakers for 13 plus years and enjoyed travelling with her close friend, Virginia Dillon.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Dennis Eugene (Dink) Phillips; parents, E. A. and Mary Pirkle; brothers, E. A. “Pete” Pirkle, Jr., Warren “Barney” Pirkle, and Donald Pirkle; sisters, Eula Pirkle Hobbs, Helen Pirkle, and Virginia Pirkle Elder.

She is survived by two sons, Craig Phillips and wife Reenelda, and Roger Phillips, all of Cleveland; grandchildren, Chasidy Cole (Peter) and Brandon Hair of Fayetteville, NC, Chad Phillips and Megan Phillips Varnell (Jacob) of Cleveland; great grandchildren, Olivia Vreeland and Jax Cole of Fayetteville, NC, and Maverick Varnell and Liam Phillips of Cleveland; and several nieces, nephews, and friends also survive.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Chattanooga and Tennova Healthcare for their care and compassion.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Reverend Glenn Clower officiating.  Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Brent Bowles, Peter Cole, Rusty Lewis, Leland Jordan, Jacob Varnell, and Cal Pickel serving as pallbearers.  Nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Bagpipes and a white dove release ceremony will conclude the service.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 18, 2017 at the funeral home.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Phillips family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.