William Joseph "Bill" Phifer Jr.

William Joseph “Bill” Phifer, Jr., (age 85) formerly of Matthews, North Carolina, went to his heavenly home on Monday, December 28, 2020 after months of declining health. He most recently had been a resident at Brookdale Lexington assisted living community. Bill was born in Charlotte, the son of the late William Joseph Phifer, Sr. and Mary Berry Phifer Williams. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald Edward Phifer. Bill was a member of the last graduating class of Charlotte Technical High School and a graduate of North Carolina State University where he pursued a mechanical engineering degree. Bill started his career as a design engineer at Duke Energy and was with them for 32 years. Bill was a member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board, the Finance Committee, and the Staff/Parish Committee. He was a member of the chancel choir and the Joy Class. He was a life member of the Charlotte Engineers Club. Bill especially enjoyed meeting with the R.O.M.E.O.’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunch bunch, which met at Queens University Dining Hall. Bill enjoyed gardening, building and flying radio control airplanes, watching Wolfpack sports, and was a classical music enthusiast. A private memorial service will be held in Salisbury, North Carolina at First United Methodist Church for family on Thursday, January 7th. A celebration of life will be held at a later date at his home church, St. Stephen United Methodist Church, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Grace Crowell Phifer; his son, William J. Phifer, III (Chip) and daughter-in-law, Helen Winston Phifer of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; his daughter Elizabeth Phifer Fazia (Betsy) and son-in-law Dr. Robert Brian Fazia of Salisbury, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Megan Phifer, Will Phifer, and Rachel Phifer of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Amanda Fazia McMillan and husband Corey McMillan of Cary, North Carolina; Grace Fazia of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Wesley Fazia of Knoxville, Tennessee; and three great-granddaughters, Katherine McMillan, Isabelle McMillan, and Parker Grace Fazia. The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Lexington and Hospice of Davidson County for the love and care that they gave to Bill. Memorials may be sent to the Music Ministry at St. Stephen United Methodist Church (6800 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC); Loaves and Fishes Ministry (648-B Griffith Road, Charlotte, NC); and Hospice of Davidson County (200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC). Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Phifer family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

William Joseph "Bill" Phifer Jr.

November 8, 1935 - December 28, 2020