Philip G. Spear, 83, of 4601 Summersong Road, Zionsville, died Dec. 11, 2010.
He was born Feb. 6, 1927, in Holland, Mich., to Russell M. and Marian Chard Spear. His wife, Donna L. Spear, survives in Zionville.
He graduated from Warsaw High School and Northwestern University School of Business (Fraternity member Sigma Alpha Epsilon) and later from Army General School, Fort Riley, Kan. He was a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring Feb. 6, 1987. He became president in 1964 for W.R. Thomas Stores, a chain of 13 variety stores in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. He was elected to the board of directors of the Variety Stores Association, New York, and later elected chairman of the 1977 Regional Company Community of the Association of General Merchandise Chains based in Washington, D.C. He was past president of the Warsaw Rotary and a member of the Masonic Lodge 73, American Legion Post 49, Warsaw. He was past director of Warsaw Insurance Agency and he was elected to the board of directors for Lake City Bank in 1967, retiring after 31 years. He was also a past elder of Presbyterian Church, Warsaw.
Also surviving are a son, Philip Jeffrey Spear, Warsaw; a daughter, Julia (and spouse Curtis) Schultz Valparaiso; two stepsons, Eric Fernkas and family, Indianapolis, and Mark Fernkas, New York City, N.Y.; a stepdaughter, Andra Walters and family, Zionsville; four grandchildren: Grant and Kyle Schultz, Jenna (and spouse Eric) DeFord and Sara Spear; two great-grandchildren, Braxton and Zachary DeFord. He was preceded in death by his parents.
All services will be private.
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials be may made to PAACI, Parkinsons Awareness Association of Central Indiana, 4755 Kingsway Drive, 333 Indianapolis, IN 46205.
Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
