Richard Evans “Dickie” Philyaw, age 70, formerly of Gainesville, passed away Sunday, May 8, 2016 in Hiram, Georgia.
Celebration of Life service will be held 7:00 pm Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. The family will receive friends two hours prior from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.
Dickie was born September 11, 1945, son of the late Terrell Audrey “Pop” Philyaw and Sara (McCrackin) Philyaw. He was preceded in death by his brother, Terry Philyaw and sister, Mary Hall.
He graduated from East Hall High School and attended Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, GA and Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia. As a teenager growing up in Gainesville during the 1960’s, Lake Lanier was slowly filling and Dickie loved to water ski. He carried his love for the sport throughout his early adult life and could be seen “barefooting” on the lake on any given summer weekend. When he wasn’t water skiing, Dickie was working out lifting weights with friends or hunting with his sons, Sean and Cale.
Dickie was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam as an Artillery Specialist in September of 1967. He was awarded the Purple Heart during one of two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was the owner of Philyaw Asphalt Company.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Philyaw of Hiram, Georgia; sons and daughters-in-law, Sean and Gretchen Philyaw of Buford and Cale and Alisha Philyaw of Gainesville; 4 grandchildren Hudson and Asher Philyaw of Buford and Molly and Lexie Philyaw of Gainesville
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or mail to Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200 or for those who desire online condolences at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
