Joshua R. Phemister's Obituary
Joshua R. Phemister was born November 4, 1926 in Arlington, TX to Prentiss Phemister and Minnie Tonkaway Geer Phemister. The youngest of six boys, Joshua spent several years at Buckner Orphans Home after the death of his parents until his older brother Charlie rescued him and took him to his home to live. At the orphanage, Joshua learned the value of family and friends. Joshua served in the Navy during WWII. After his service, he lived in Paris, TX. In 1953 Joshua moved his family to the Richardson area and worked for the Dallas County Sheriff’s office for several years before working for Southwestern Labs in Dallas as a soil and concrete technician. After retirement, Joshua worked as a school crossing guard for the City of Richardson until 2014 when he decided it was just too cold to stand on the corner any longer. Joshua was a long time member of The Heights Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and met his second wife Nell. As a couple, they were very active in the church activities teaching Sunday School and volunteering where needed. Joshua is preceded in death by his parents, his five brothers, Walter, William, Charles, Edward and Prentiss, his wife, Nell Phemister and first wife and mother of his children, Evelyn Phemister. He is also predeceased by his “baby girl” daughter, Gloria Carpenter. He is survived by his sons, Glenn (Carol), Larry (Sharon), Joshua, Jr, Charles (Willow) and Russell (Kim) Phemister and his daughter, Rebecca (John) Martin and son-in-law, Don Carpenter. He is also survived by grandchildren, Shawn and Shannon Wimmer, Amanda Carpenter, Michael and Timothy Price, Mary Sorenson, Garrett, Faith, Grace, Rebecca, Charlie, Christie and Lindsay Phemister; great-grandchildren included, Logan, Laura, Taylor, and Shawn Wimmer, Dallas Giviria, Harley and Oakley Phemister, Trevor Munoz and Theo Riser. Also surviving are many Phemister nieces and nephews. Memorial services for Joshua Phemister will be held on Friday, February 20, 2015 at The Heights Baptist Church, 201 W Renner Road, Richardson, TX with inurnment at the National Cemetery at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243.
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