Phillip A Meissner

View Funeral WebcastMr. Phillip Augustus Meissner, 81, resident of Hampshire Pike, died unexpectedly Monday, August 17, 2009 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Donna Higginbotham and Rev. Larry McGranahan officiating. Burial will follow in Santa Fe Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Thursday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Williamsport United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 337, Williamsport, Tennessee 38487. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Wellsville, New York native was the son of the late Herman Meissner and Dorothy Kinney Meissner. During his long, beautiful, blessed life he was a man with many talents. After graduating with honors from High School in Wellsville, he went on to attend Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y. Feeling compelled to serve his country, he entered the U.S. Naval Reserve at the end of the Korean Conflict. He came home and once again served his country working with the F.B.I. as a fingerprint specialist. He then served in the U.S. Army for two years in the 11th Airborne Division. He was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. For the remainder of his life he lived in Columbia after marrying his beloved Delores Childress on November 27, 1952. He attended Columbia State Community College where he graduated magna cum laude with an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Meissner retired from E.I. Dupont after thirty years then worked for Spontex for two years. He was a lover of nature and a horticultural hobbyist, growing magnificent gardens year after year. He loved dogs and is survived by his Boston Terrier, Jazzy. In addition to his wife he is survived by a daughter, Marlane (Rob) Soldner of Jacksonville, Florida; brother, Donald (Betty) Meissner of Messina, New York; two grandchildren, Cody Soldner and Katelyn (Danny) Bryant both of Jacksonville, FL; sister-in-law, Frances Wiley of Williamsport; five nephews, Dennis (Cherry) Wiley, Larry (Anne) Wiley both of Columbia, Steve Wiley of Lynnville, Ricky (Teresa) Wiley of Warrior, Alabama, Donnie Meissner of Watertown, New York; three nieces, Brenda Meissner, Sue Meissner both of Mesina, New York; and Mary (Charlie) Flint of Cumberland, Virginia. He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Meissner. Pallbearers will be Andrew Wiley, Larry Wiley, Dennis Wiley, Ricky Wiley, Steve Wiley, Dennis Turner, Jerry Fly and Bill Fly. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny Jones, Earl Moore, Harold Meador, Al Knott, Wesley Uptain, Steve Hall, J.B. Long, Dr. Darrell Rinehart, Dr. James Marshall, Jack Higginbotham and Fran Abel.