John Phelps

1936 - 2017

John Phelps
1936-2017
John Howard Phelps was born on the 17TH of January 1936 in the country, outside of Kosse, Texas to Quint E. Phelps and Nona Truett Phelps. He passed peacefully from this life at his home on Saturday, May 27, 2017.
John grew up in Kosse, the son of a peanut farmer. He graduated from Kosse High School and continued his education at Sam Houston University. During that time he married his high school sweetheart Wynell Williams. John graduated from Sam Houston with a degree in agriculture and then entered the US Navy. After serving his country, John came home to his family and taught school in Channelview and Pasadena.
John joined State Farm Insurance as an agent in 1962 and opened his office in the one car garage of his Pasadena home. He built that agency into one of the largest State Farm agencies in the United States. John often said he could not have made it without Wynell.
John served his community as a Pasadena City Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem as well as President of Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, President of YMCA and Chairman of Southeast Economic Development Association. He was involved in many successful partnerships which included funeral homes, real estate and other ventures. He actively supported South Avenue Baptist Church where they were longtime members. He loved his community and reached out in service. That involvement in the community brought him many honors which included Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Pasadena's Hall of Fame, Optimist Citizen of the Year, The Paul Harris Rotary Award, Rotarian of the Year, Pasadena Business of the Year, Pasadena ISD Distinguished Citizen of the Year and Optimist Citizen of the Year. Harris County Commissioners honored him by naming a courthouse annex after him. He was a good neighbor and friend to all.
John is preceded in death by his parents, his son Douglas Ray Phelps, and his father and mother-in-law William Lester Williams and Juanita Gillihan Williams.
He is survived by Wynell Williams Phelps, his beloved wife of 63 years; son Steve Phelps and wife Jana; son Ken Phelps and wife Alicia; grandchildren Becky Phelps Carlisle and husband Chris, Johnny Phelps, Bethany Phelps and Q Phelps; great-grandchildren Easton Elliott, Will Phelps and Harper Carlisle. John is also survived by his brother Lyndon Phelps and wife Peggy, brothers-in-law Weldon Williams and wife Peggie, Eudean Williams, and Darrell Williams and wife Kitty; nieces, nephews, friends and his extended family his policyholders.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 1st, from 9:30am until 11:00am, with the service following at 11:00am, held at First Baptist Church Pasadena, 7500 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, Texas 77505.
In lieu of flowers, if friends desire, contributions may be made either to Ebenezer Cemetery, P.O. Box 112, Kosse, Texas 76653, Pasadena Community Ministries, P.O. Box 4954, Pasadena, Texas 77502-4954 or the charity of your choosing.