Philip Shea

Philip Shea

RALEIGH - Philip Shea passed away at Wake Medical Center on February 26 due to complications from surgery.

A memorial service will be conducted Thursday at 2 pm at Oakmont Baptist Church.

Phil was born in Torrington, Connecticut to John Raymond Shea and Alice Swanberg Shea. He spent an idyllic childhood with his younger sister, Ruth, in his family's home on a former apple orchard in Washington Depot, Connecticut.

Phil attended the Washington Primary School and won a scholarship to attend prep school at The Gunnery, both in his hometown. He attended Middlebury College on a scholarship, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history. He continued his academic preparation with a post-graduate year at Dartmouth College and later at Michigan State University where he earned his master's degree and Ph.D in geography.

While at Michigan State, Phil met Jannis Breeden, a new transfer graduate student from Louisiana. They quickly fell in love and married in June 1960. Phil and Jan started their married life in Ruston, Louisiana where Phil taught geography at Louisiana Tech. While in Ruston, their first daughter, Lark, was born.

In 1962, Phil was offered a teaching position at East Carolina University, so Phil moved his family to Greenville, NC. Phil and later Jan ultimately spent more than 37 years teaching at East Carolina. While in Greenville, daughter Kristen joined the family.

Phil and Jan were both devoted to Oakmont Baptist Church, joining in the first year of the church. Phil was dedicated and faithful, serving in quiet ways as a long-time Men's Sunday School teacher and worship service usher. He enjoyed many years of men's breakfast gatherings on Sunday mornings. Phil's Sunday School class enjoyed his teaching which often featured a geography lesson to give a perspective on the biblical story.

Phil, Jan, and the girls enjoyed a wonderful family life. The family traveled as often as possible to visit Phil's family in Connecticut and Jan's family in Louisiana. Wonderful summer vacations were spent traveling the U.S. in a succession of camping equipment from tents to RVs. The family Cocker Spaniel was always along for the ride.

Phil was a life-long sports fan and enjoyed participating in baseball and football as a young man at school. He also enjoyed fly fishing in the mountains of North Carolina, with daughter, Kristen.

Though Phil loved Jan and the girls, he was thrilled when two grandsons, Matthew and Alex were born to daughter, Lark and her husband, Maurice James. Phil was very proud of his grandsons and delighted in their academic and sporting interests. Phil especially enjoyed talking to Matthew about his beloved Detroit Tigers and to Alex about Carolina Hurricanes hockey.

Traditions and holidays spent with the family were treasured by Phil. The annual Thanksgiving festivities followed by the trek to the N.C. mountains to select just the right Christmas tree was a tradition the whole family eagerly anticipated. Phil and Jan also enjoyed many years of traveling with their family and the family, returned to New England, especially Vermont, as often as possible.

In later years, Phil and Jan moved to Rolesville to be near daughters, Lark and Kristen, and their families. Phil and Jan joined Wake Forest Baptist Church and enjoyed the kindness of friends there and in their neighborhood.

Phil is survived by his wife, Jannis, of 56 years, daughter Lark and husband Maurice James and their sons, Matthew and Alex, and daughter Kristen. Also surviving are faithful dog companions, Nellie, Lily, Speck, and Ginger. Phil will be forever cherished by his family.

The family welcomes memorial contributions to Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, N.C.

Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com. As published in The Daily Reflector