Rev. Richard Phil Gass, 83, of Elizabethton, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2015, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital following a brief illness.
Phil was born on February 24, 1932, in Greene County, Tenn., and was the fifth of 12 children born to the late Charles Hardin and Hazel Casteel Gass.
Phil was a graduate of East Tennessee State University and was a retired Baptist minister, who was eager to share the gospel with those he met. Phil pastored churches in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. He was a member of Central Baptist Church in Johnson City.
Phil loved to work with wood and was eager to share his creations with others, especially birdhouses. He honorably served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Marjorie Lyons Gass; his second wife, Helen Williamson Gass; two sisters, Mary Christine Jenkins and Alice Lou Ramsey; and three brothers, William Ross, Everette Lee and Charles Duane Gass.
Phil is survived by a daughter, Julie Ann, of the home; two sisters, Joan Brewer of Elizabethton, and Lois Schaff and husband Bill of Elizabethton; four brothers, Jim Gass and wife Jerry of Marietta, Ga., Lewis and wife Brenda of Elizabethton, Michael and wife Shea of Elizabethton, and Bob and wife Pat of Mt. Ulla, N.C.; and a special niece and nephew, Jane and Fritz Jones of Elizabethton.
The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the Intensive Care Unit at Sycamore Shoals Hospital of Elizabethton for the compassionate care Phil received during his illness. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Central Baptist Church, 300 N. Roan Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
A service to honor and celebrate the life of Rev. Phil Gass will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Dr. Ron Murray officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service. Friends may visit at his residence at any other time. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Gass family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.