TOWN HILL – John W. Phippen Jr., 57, died Sept. 11, 2010, at a Bangor hospital. He was born Jan. 27, 1953, in Bar Harbor, the son of Althea (Murphy) Phippen and John W. Phippen Sr. He was a loving and devoted son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather and friend to all. As a young man, John showed an interest in anything mechanical and often could be found fixing one of his four sister’s bikes. In the early ’70s John and his cousin, Bobbi Powers bought the United Pentecostal Church, which is now Hillside Garage. John worked there after graduating from Mount Desert High School in 1972. He worked for more than 22 years side-by-side with his father, John W. Phippen Sr. In 1978 John started racing stock cars after admiring a neighbor’s car. He was a natural, capturing an impressive three championships at Speedway 95, one at Wiscasset Raceway and three consecutively at Unity Raceway. John was happiest at the race track, where he was surrounded by some of his wonderful friends and family, Scott and Laurie Pooler, Greg Linscott, Emile St. Germain, Derek and Michelle Mingo, Julie Commeau, Cedric Long, John Chipman, Michelle Rafferty and Stephen Swanson, who not only was his brother-in-law, but a close friend. John is a lifetime member of Mount Desert Island Lodge No. 140 AF & AM and was serving as master at the time of his death. John will be remembered by most for his sense of humor, if anyone were to ask him how he was, he would reply, “Old, fat, tired and bald.” An expression he used so much, he had it painted on the back of his stock car. To his children he will most be remembered for his unconditional love and big bear hugs. He is survived by his four children, Shane Phippen of Meza, Ariz., Rachel and her husband, Jay Pelletier, of Bar Harbor, Jasmine Phippen and her companion, Brian Pratt, of Trenton and Monica Phippen of Bar Harbor; special companion, Lisa Jenson of Town Hill and her daughter, Victoria; grandchildren, Janna Pelletier of Bar Harbor and Olivia Pratt of Trenton; three sisters, Nancy Greenlaw and her husband, Fred, of Trenton, Theresa Edwards and her husband, Michael, of Aberdeen Wash., and Ruth Tracy and her husband, James, of Surry; three brothers-in-law, Peter, Michael and Stephen Swanson and their wives, Terri, Annemarie and Kelley Swanson, all of Trenton; father-in-law, Fred Swanson of Trenton; wife, Deborah Phippen of Ellsworth, with whom he shared 26 years of marriage; many nieces and nephews; a special cousin, Bobbi Powers; and special friends, Emile and Louise St. Germain and Nyoka Gray. He was predeceased by his parents, Althea and John Phippen Sr.; sister, Pearle Mitchell; niece, Christina Greenlaw; and lifelong friend, Richard Gray. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, 215 Main St., Ellsworth. Interment will be at Town Hill Cemetery, Mount Desert. Donations can be made in his memory to Mount Desert Island Lodge, P.O. Box 315, Mount Desert, ME 04660. Condolences may be sent at www.bragdonkelley.com.
JOHN W. PHIPPEN JR.
