Michael Leonard Phelan

1948 - 2016

WILLIAMSBURG - Michael Leonard Phelan,died August 15, 2016, after a very courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). He was born on August 18, 1948, in North Tonawanda, NY, to the late Eileen and Leonard Phelan. Mike graduated from St Joseph's Collegiate Institute in 1966; then went on to get a Bachelor's Degree (BA) in English from Franklin College of Indiana in 1971. After graduating from college, he served in the Army for five years. Much of his military service was spent as a computer operator. After his discharge from the Army, he worked in civil service as a computer analyst and a computer programmer. He retired from Civil Service as an Information Technology Specialist with Directorate of Information Management at Fort Monroe, Virginia, in November, 2007, after more than 32 years of service. Mike loved the outdoors and hunting. He spent many enjoyable days with his father in upstate NY ice fishing and hunting deer and grouse. He had a love of history and amassed many books about the civil war period. But his pride and joy was his family. He was a nurturing father and a wonderful husband. His family always came first and his children have many wonderful stories to cherish. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Judy Phelan; his daughter, Erin and her husband, Ray Crew, of Arlington, VA.; his son, Jonathan Phelan of Chicago, Ill; sisters, Kathleen Field (Tom) and Mary Phelan (Don) both of Glens Falls, NY; and several loving nephews and nieces. Friends are welcomed to share memories at the Celebration of Life Service that will be held at Bucktrout Funeral Home 2:00 P.M, Sunday, August 21, 2016, with a reception to follow. The family will be receiving friends one hour prior to the service. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens hospital, www.stjude.org, or Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. P.O Box 163, Palmyra, VA. 22963. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net.