Don Phares, 92, a long time resident of Randolph County, and a resident of the Harpertown Road, departed this life at 1:38 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2002, at his residence. He had been in declining health.
He was born on Sept. 6, 1909, at Bushy Run, in Pendleton County, the 12th child of Isaac Phares and Carrie Boggs Phares.
He was twice married. First, he was married to the former Dollie M. Vanscoy, who preceded him in death, and then he was married to Virgie E. Canfield, who also preceded him in death.
Surviving are five sons, Isaac Phares Jr., Miami, Fla., John and Bill Phares, both of Elyria, Ohio, Don Phares Jr., Elkins, and Jim Phares, Girard, Ohio; nine daughters, Carrie Ellen Quattro, Columbiana, Ohio, Ethel Hazelwood, Lake City, Fla., Ina Pamer and Regina Ruth Spencer, both of Elyria, Ohio, Yvonne Phillips, Edgewater, Fla., Bobbie Haddox, Fla., Johnnie Minear, Elkins, Polly Minear, Michigan, and Nancy Minear, Elkins; one stepson, Lacy Canfield, Belington; two stepdaughters, Thelma Canfield Higgins, Buckhannon, and Wilma L. Canfield Biller, Kerens; one sister, Ruth Phares Sommerville, Elkins; 25 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, several stepgrandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren and stepgreat-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara Mae Phares Hohman; five brothers, Snowden, Frank, Clarence, Emerson and Dewey Phares; and five sisters, Nellie Vance, Ina Moran, Elaine Pressau Vance, Ethel Duckworth Moore and Noami Collett.
Mr. Phares was a farmer, coal miner, railroad worker, and retired from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a member of Elkins Church of the Brethren.
Friends will be received at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Final rites will be conducted from the funeral home chapel Friday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Walter H. Blough will officiate and interment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery at Elkins.
