Wayne Phipps, 67, of Marysville, formerly of Laurelville, died unexpectedly Monday at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
He served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1989. Upon enlistment, he served three tours of duty in Vietnam with B Troop, 1/9 Air Cavalry Regiment where he was a door gunner on UH-1 helicopter gunships.
During his tours in Vietnam, he was shot down nine times, including three times in the same day. Following his service in Vietnam, he served one tour in the republic of South Korea.
Upon his return to the United States, he was stationed at Fort Knox where he performed duties as a Medevac helicopter crew chief. His next assignment was with the Army recruiting command.
He completed his military career as the Provost/Physical Security Sergeant with the 83rd ARCOM headquarters at DCSC in Columbus. Following his retirement as SFC in 1989, he served as a deputy sheriff for the Ross and Hocking County Sheriff offices.
He will be remembered as a courageous and honorable patriot.
He was born Nov.15, 1949, in Charleston, West Virginia to the late Don and Ruth Miller Phipps. He was also preceded in death by a son, Steven Phipps.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Elaine G. Otten Phipps, whom he married Aug. 20, 1982, in Yankton, South Dakota; his daughter, Amanda (Steve) Goodon and her children, Jayson, Alexxa and Stacia; his son, David Phipps and his children, Jason, Andrew, Elaine and Ruth; his brother, Kenny (Yvonne) Phipps of Arizona; and many other relatives and friends, including a cousin, Larry (Sandy) Miller of Winfield, West Virginia, and a longtime friend and comrade, Tom (Marilyn) Scheiderer of Zanesfield.
The family will receive friends 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Underwood Funeral Home, where military honors will be presented at 4 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com.