Earl C. Phillips

Earl Chester Phillips, 91, of Pittsfield, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017 at Craneville Place. Born in the cotton town section of Dalton on December 15, 1925 to Frederick and Dora Phillips, he was the youngest of 5 boys. Earl learned the value of a hard day’s work. At the age of 14 Earl took a job at a lumber company in East Windsor, not knowing how large of a part of his life this business would become. When Earl was 17, he met Pauline Lockwenz from Adams and a year later he was drafted into the United States Army. He trained to be a paratrooper and received his wings on his birthday in 1944. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division. After the surrender of the Germans in 1945, Earl became part of the occupation forces in Germany where Earl’s duties shifted to guarding Eisenhower’s headquarters at the Khronberg Castle. Earl returned home on May 29, 1946 with an honorable discharge, earning a pin for first class rifleman, a pin representing his time in the European Theater, and a Belgium Citation for bravery. He reunited with Pauline and they were married on July 26, 1946. Earl worked for 26 years at Kelly’s Hardware and Lumber Mill in Pittsfield, and two years after the death of his boss, John Kelly, he opened his own business in 1972, the Berlin Lumber Company in Berlin, NY. He operated his business with increasing loss of his eye sight. In 1997, Earl and Pauline moved to Lanesboro and they continued to work and travel. Sadly, Pauline passed away in 2004. The following year, Earl married Bernadine Lacy Barcomb. The pair also loved to travel, both throughout the United States and abroad. Earl is survived by his wife, Bernadine Lacy Phillips, and his two sons, Earl Emil of Pittsfield, and Gary Phillips of Florida. He leaves behind grandchildren, great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, his step-family, and close friends. Earl has given so much to this world. His accomplishments over his long life were remarkable and inspiring. We will miss you and remember you as the wonderful man you truly were. We love you always. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Earl Phillips will be Friday, June 23, 2017 at 11AM at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Cheshire. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery in Adams. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, care of Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield, MA, in his memory. Please visit www.dwyerfuneral.com to leave condolences and remembrances. DONATIONS CAN NOT BE MADE ONLINE, BUT MAY BE MADE THROUGH THE FUNERAL HOME.

Earl C. Phillips

December 15, 1925 - June 16, 2017