Philip French-Carson Greear

Philip F-C Greear, resident of Helen, Georgia, died at home on September 26, 2012 at age 94. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mildred White Greear, four children: Carol Greear Backus, Delbert Philip Greear, Margaret Greear Oren and Teressa Greear Holtzclaw, eleven Grandchildren: Virginia Carstarphen, John T. Carstarphen, Ben Greear, Jake Philip Greear, Cary Greear Ritzler, Dixie Dillon Lane, Jay Leroux Dillon, Corey Isaac Oren, Elise Renee Oren, Troy Carson (T.C.) Holtzclaw and Michael Holtzclaw and 5 great grandchildren: Leah Holtzclaw, Angelina Lazetic-Greear, Jovan Lazetic-Greear, Carl Philip Ritzler and Isaac Ritzler.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Virginia Katherine (Missy) Greear, his parents, John Fields Greear, Sr. and Carrie (Caroline) Cox Greear, siblings: John Greear, Jr., Jean Greear McGinty, Solomon Cox Greear, James Washington (Josh) Greear and David Greear.

Philip's parents brought their family from Troutdale, Virginia, to White County, Georgia, in the 1920's, when Philip was eight years old. He attended Nacoochee School through the eleventh grade, then finished high school at Young Harris Academy. He continued his college education at Young Harris College

After college graduation, Greear joined the U.S. Army in 1942. He soon transferred into the newly formed U.S. Air Force, in Biloxi, Mississippi. There he met Mildred White, a young teacher who taught at Gulfport High School. They married on June 4, 1943. While Philip was in military training, they moved their residency to Helen, Georgia, to be near his parents.

Philip was stationed in Japan post WWII. Mildred and their three children, Carol, Delbert and Virginia Katherine (Missy) joined him there from 1951-1953. After returning to Helen, Philip taught school in White County and later attended the University of Georgia where he earned his Master's degree in Plant Taxonomy and, also, his Ph. D. in Biology with specialization in Botany.

Philip was appointed chairman of the department of biology and earth
science at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, from 1962