It is with great sadness that the Phipps family of Roanoke, announce the passing from this life of Mr. Donald Phipps, 71, a resident of 1138 Main Street.  Mr. Phipps transitioned from this life on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at UAB Hospital, Birmingham.

The Life and Legacy of Donald Phipps

Donald Phipps, age 71, was one of five children, born May 2, 1950, to the parentage of the late Elga Howard Phipps and Mattie Louise (Joyner) Phipps.  He was born in Brooklet, GA, a small town near Savannah, in Bulloch County. 

As fate would have it, the Phipps family found their way (or made their way) to Florida, where Donald at around age 19,  graduated in 1969 from Cypress Lake High School, Fort. Meyers.

Donald became interested in the concrete industry, and over time, this became a comfortable career for him.  Over twenty years, he worked for ZEP Construction, building bridges throughout the state of Florida.  After 20 years of bridge-building, he shifted gears, and opted to do less demanding work, moving into in full maintenance for Bonita Rental(s).  

At 47, Donald married the love of his life, Abby Jean Wallace on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1997, In Bonita Springs, Lee County, FL.  Their marriage of almost 25 years, gave rise to a beautifully blended family of children and grandchildren.

Having grabbed ahold of the the addictive, outdoorsy life in Florida, Donald loved fishing and gardening.  These were his favorite things to do.  Like most outdoorsmen, he liked to go camping every once in awhile.  A doting father, Donald loved his children and grandchildren.   14 ½ years ago, the Phipps family relocated to Roanoke, AL, from Rockland County, New York.  Nearly 15 years later, they found themselves in love with the little community known as Roanoke, Alabama.  Here, their family found solace by centering their lives around First Baptist Church downtown, and their home on Main Street.  Donald spent his last six years working as the Janitor at their church before settling into retirement.  His life was greatly enriched whenever he got a chance to work with the soup kitchen, and if he heard there was going to be a wedding, he’d be the first one there to help with the decorations!  He was a man ꟷ out and about ꟷ  who just simply enjoyed watching the world come to life every day.   

Donald was preceded in death by his oldest sister, Betty Jean Robinson (“Bud”) of Fruithurst; and sister, Mary Sheremeta (Thomas) of Heflin.   Regrettably, Donald slipped from our midst to rejoin his parents, and his sisters, at 5:09 pm, on a Sunday evening, February 6, 2022 at University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL.   We take comfort in the biblical reminders found at II Corinthians 5:8 that “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

Having devoted a lifetime to building bridges all over the State of Florida, and having crossed over that final bridge to eternity, we rejoice in the knowledge that Donald’s unrelenting spirit will live on through those of us who remain: his beloved wife of 25 years, Abby Phipps of Roanoke; children: Patrick Robinson (Melissa) of San Antonio, TX , Christopher Robinson (Molly), and Shannon Savage (Louis) both of Roanoke, AL; brother, James Phipps (Pat) of Heflin, AL; and sister: Dorothy Byran (Bobby) Of Naples, FL; aunt, Evelynn Herring of Smyrna, GA; and a large number of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends.

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