Philip Neff Lyons

Philip Neff Lyons, age 79, went to be with his Lord March 2, 2023. Phil had lived a wonderful, exciting life. He was one of 6 children of Virginia and Orville Lyons. His father died when Phil was 10 and his mother raised all 6 children alone. Phil was born in Columbus, OH January 9, 1944. He lived in several places during his childhood, but mostly in Columbus. Phil had always loved planes and decided to join the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school. Before he went into the Air Force, he and his friend Dave decided they would ride across country on bikes. The trip took over 2 months. They started in Ocean City, Maryland and ended up in Crescent City, California. Phil kept the bike he rode and restored it to how it looked on the trip 5 years ago. He rode it often on the Croswell Bike Path. Phile spent 22 years serving his country in the Air Force. He was proud that he kept the F-105 radar in good order during the Vietnam conflict. Phil served all over the Far East during his career seeing such places Okinawa, Taiwan, Philippines, and more. He would often tell of the pedicab drivers in Thailand that slept on his porch, ate about 100 kilos of rice that Phil generously gave them. He would say “They wouldn’t let me walk anywhere!” After the Far East, Phil was sent to George Air Force Base where he would meet the love of his life and her beautiful daughter, Annette. On January 14, 1977 Philip married Debbie William in High Desert Baptist Church. He had proposed and they had planned a June wedding but the USAF told him he would be sent overseas if he wasn’t getting married. So the wedding was moved up and it was decided that if they wanted a child that would move up too and Travis James was born October 27, 1977. The next four years were spent in Spain where family came to visit and many wonderful sights were visited and seen. Then back to Eglin AFB and retirement from the Air Force. Phil then acquired an Associates Degree in Drafting and a Phi Beta Kappa key for his brilliance in the field. Debbie meanwhile earned a degree in teaching. Florida was not to be their future and when both lost their jobs they decided to hunt jobs up north. Result was they ended up in Croswell, Michigan. Debbie came first and got a job teaching for Cros-Lex Schools while Phil disposed of stuff in Florida. Then Phil came up when Debbie found a house. After working for Cros-Lex as a sub, janitor, and sub bus driver, Phil eventually got a job at American Tape, now Intertape Polimer group. He worked there for 22 years, retiring in 2010 after Debbie retired from teaching in 2008. Phil loved a wide variety of things. He loved to read and loved collecting books. He loved creating sea turtles, horses, air planes out of old clock and watch parts. He filled many requests for items from peoples all over. He collected 78 records and the crank record players you played them on. He collected telephones so show the history. He loved creating his train layout, 16x20 feet with bird feeders as the houses, many fun cartoon characters, and his dream train that is 10 cars plus engine and tender. You will find Betty Boop with the 7 Dwarfs, Phil would say “well Snow White married the Price and lives in the castle.” You will find Gomez Addams with Morticia living in the teardrop trailer with flamingos in front yard. But most of all Phil loved his old car, Talulah. She is a 1923 Speedster. Phil and Debbie drove her to Auburn, Indiana, Columbus, Ohio, Springfield, Illinois, and Granby, Colorado. He would say that Talulah had crossed the Continental Divide at lowest point as well as the Missouri Rover, and the Mississippi River. He also drove her all over the Thumb and around the coast of Michigan. He loved to show kids how you had to crank start her and then give the child a Model T magazine passing on the history and tradition. Phil was unfailingly kind, generous to all, and will be missed by so many. He treated people everywhere the way he wanted to be treated. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Debbie; his daughter, Annette (Wayne) Reeves; his son, Travis (Jenn). He had 5 grandchildren, Sean, Amber, and Harleigh Reeves, and Damon and Keegan Lyons. He is survived by 5 siblings, Orville (Hope) Lyons, Mike (Milt) Puckett, Frank Lyons, Bern Lyons, and Meg (Ann) Lyons. Phil will be deeply missed by all. Phile had one charity that he donated to consistently and the family would like donations to be made in his memory: The Commemorative Air Force because they keep old places flying. You can find them online. Funeral Services will be held 2 PM Friday, March 10 at Pomeroy Funeral Home. Pastor Linda Fuller will officiate. Visiting will be from 12-2 PM Friday, prior to the service.

Philip Neff Lyons

January 9, 1944 - March 2, 2023