Allen G. Pharis

First Sgt. (ret.) Allen G. Pharis, 89, of Columbus, died on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Columbus Hospice House.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 25, at Beallwood Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Duncan and Rev. Clark Standard officiating. Grandsons served as active pallbearers, Marc Haile, James Pharis, Joshua Rauscher, Benjamin Rauscher, Timothy Rauscher, Samuel Rauscher, Isaiah Rauscher, Nathan Haile, Christian Haile and John David Haile and the Berean Sunday School Class served as honorary pallbearers.
A private family interment was held at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery with full military honors.
First Sgt. Pharis was born Aug. 1, 1924, in Guyton to George Henry Pharis and Celia Elizabeth Hodges Pharis. He served his country overseas during World War II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam, and he was stationed in Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, Thailand, and Georgia, retiring in Columbus in 1980 after 30 years.
After that, he worked for the city of Columbus for several years. He found great joy in serving his Savior, his church and others in any way he could. He loved his family, and he loved his church family at Beallwood Baptist Church, where he was a deacon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and a grandson, Luke.
Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Helen Elster Pharis; son Stephen and daughter-in-law Orapid (Joy) Pharis both of Columbus; daughter Donna Pharis of Atlanta; daughter Patty Haile and son-in-law Allan of Friona, Texas; daughter Dee Dee Rauscher and son-in-law Paul of Milton, N.C.; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Helen Harrington, of Sebring, Fla., and a brother, Howard Pharis, of Rincon; and several nieces and nephews.