Rev. Charles Richard Phelps, Sr., age 90, went to heaven to be with Christ July 15, 2021.

 

He was born August 8, 1930, in Madisonville, KY, the eighth child and fifth son of the late James E. and Sarah E. (Payne) Phelps.

 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers: Victor E. Phelps, William E. Phelps, Harold O. Phelps, and Roland Phelps and five sisters: Gladys Dennis, Margaret Biehl, Marcia Purcell, Joyce Back, and Jean McDonald. Also preceding him were his first wife, Blanch (Nephew) Phelps, in 1954, and his second wife, June (Kallgren) Phelps in 1982; an infant son, James Edward Phelps II, passed away in 1967 and a grandson, Charles Richard Phelps, III in 2011.

 

Surviving are his wife, Kathy (Daugherty) Phelps whom he married in 1983; one son, Charles R. Phelps, Jr. (Linda); three daughters: Linnea Donovan (Michael), Lois Waybright (Ronald), and Ruth Gordon (Steven). Surviving also are six grandsons: Caleb Phelps, Daniel Phelps, Stephen Donovan, James Donovan, Joshua Waybright, and Joel Waybright; 11 granddaughters survive: Rachel Singapogu, Sharon Phelps, Sarah Harmon, Christina Caldwell, Megan Waybright, Kaitlin Bulman, Tori Waybright, Allison Gordon, Mikayla Gordon, Meredith Gordon, and Abigail Gordon. He is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren.

 

Mr. Phelps grew up in Ohio in the cities of Massillon and Warren. He graduated from Warren Harding High School in 1948 and from Baptist Bible Institute, Cleveland, OH (now Cedarville College) in 1952. In addition, he received degrees from Youngstown University (BA, 1960) and Wittenberg University (M.Div. in 1968) and did doctoral studies at Bob Jones University.

 

In 1947, Mr. Phelps had a life-transforming experience when he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was born again of the Spirit of God. In 1950 he began a 45-year ministry as a local church pastor. During this time, he ministered to eight churches: Novelty Community Church, in Novelty, OH; Troy Baptist Church, in Garrettsville, OH; New Lyme Baptist Church, in New Lyme, OH; First Regular Baptist Church, in Bellefontaine, OH; Berean Baptist Church, in Endwell, NY; Emmanuel Baptist Church, in Clarksburg, WV; Blessed Hope Baptist Church, in Springfield, OH; and Calvary Baptist Church, in Massillon, OH.

 

Since retirement from the pastoral ministry, Mr. Phelps has served as Pastor’s Assistant and Home Missionary of Emmanuel Baptist Church, in Clarksburg, WV, where he had been the senior pastor from 1975 to 1988. His pulpit supply ministry led him to minister in over 30 churches.

 

Favorite pastimes were sports, reading and writing. He wrote his autobiography, “A Shining Light that Keeps Shining,” and numerous poems. He also loved to travel, having visited in the US, Canada, Greece, Egypt, and Israel.

 

Family and friends will be received at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1318 N. 16th St. Clarksburg, WV, on Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11 a.m. with Pastor Josh Brown presiding.

 

Interment will follow at the Greenlawn Cemetery.

 

Online condolences, www.davisweaverfuneralhome.com

 

The Davis-Weaver Funeral Home is honored to serve the Phelps Family during this time.