Obituary of LaDon Phillips

Mr. LaDon Phillips, formerly of Ozark, died October 22, 2023 at Kirkwood by the River in Birmingham with his daughter by his side. He was 90 years old. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Elam Baptist Church with Reverend Richard Hanna officiating. Interment will follow with Military Honors, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. Don was born on his family farm in Elamville, Alabama on February 26, 1933 to George W. Phillips and Lillian "Dub" Phillips. He was a graduate of Barbour County High School class of 1951. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy and while stationed in Seattle, Washington, he met and married Berit "Bea" Ofteness. After his naval service, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Plattsburg, New York, where they welcomed their first child, Donald. When his military service ended, Don and Bea returned to Ozark, where they welcomed their second child, Laurie. He attended Alabama Aviation College to become a licensed aircraft mechanic. He worked for aircraft contractors at Fort Rucker for over 30 years. Outside of work, Don had many hobbies including farming, fixing up old cars, wood working, running several small business ventures and traveling across the country with his wife, Bea, and daughter, Laurie, to visit family in Seattle, Washington and to explore many National Parks along the way. In 1996 Don married his second wife Winnie Burt of Montgomery, Alabama. They spent their retirement traveling in their RV and boating with his daughter, son in law and grandchildren at Lake Mitchell. In 2018, Don moved to Kirkwood by the River in Birmingham to be close to his daughter and grandchildren. He enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden, walking his dog Honey, listening to Alabama football games announced by Eli Gold and making new friends in the Kirkwood community. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Donald George Phillips; his wife and mother of his children, Berit "Bea" Ofteness; his second wife, Winnie Burt Phillips; his brothers, Douglas Lunsford and Evans Lunsford; and his sisters, Dovie Slawson, Betty McCraney, and Dorothy Adams. He is survived by his daughter, Laurie Grantham and her husband, Jeff Grantham; his three grandchildren, Sallie Wheeler and her husband, Ryan Wheeler, Jack Grantham and his wife Elinor Grantham, and Betsy Grantham; his great-granddaughter, Sophie Phillips Wheeler; his sister, Elaine Casey; his sister-in-law, Jorunn Rose; his brothers-in law, Ove Ofteness and Tore Ofteness; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to give a special thanks to his dear friends of almost 70 years, the late Joe Atkisson and his surviving wife, Kay Atkisson; and to his loving friend at Kirkwood, Joan Long. In lieu of flowers, donation memorials may be made in memory of his nephew, Jay Adams, to Vivian B. Adams School, 2047 Stuart Tarter Road, Ozark, Alabama 36360. .