Beech Tree News Network

We honor Donald Rufus Phelps as our Veteran of the Year.  He was one of six children born to Julian and Ruth (Haycraft) Phelps in the Horsemill Community of Butler County.  His siblings were Rufard Lee Phelps, Virginia Phelps Hatcher, Wandell Phelps, Geneva Phelps Sweat and Randall Phelps.  The Phelps Family has a long history of military service.  Rufard served in the US Navy and Randall served in the Marine Corps.
Donald graduated from Butler County High School in 1953 and was inducted into the US Army October 5, 1953.  He completed eight weeks of basic training at Fort Knox, KY then on to Camp Stewart, Georgia.

While at Fort Knox he was trained in the use of tanks.  He received demolition training at Camp Stewart. From there he was shipped out to Okinawa, the Far East Command where he served in C Battery 663rd Field Artillery Battalion.   While there he was the officer in charge of ammunition and use of the atomic gun.
After three years, he was discharged September 28, 1956 in California, then back to Fort Knox, to Louisville to Butler County where he married Lavone Embry on May 11, 1957.   Their children are Don Phelps, Timothy Phelps and Julia Phelps Holman with several Greats and Grands. 

Donald’s life has been filled with work.  He is such a multi-talented man. He became a carpenter and followed the construction business all of his life in Kentucky and Indiana. He taught a carpentry school. He built the Jail in the basement of the Butler County Courthouse. He worked on the renovation/addition of the First Baptist Church in Bowling Green.  He worked at Western Kentucky University.  He said that he worked on just about every house on Tyler Street in Morgantown.  
Donald has been on the staff of Smith Funeral Home for several years and always attends the Honor Guards during the memorial services.
Everyone is invited to the Green River NSDAR Veterans’ Reception at Morgantown Elementary Cafeteria immediately after the Veterans Parade on Saturday, November 12.  The parade begins at 2:00 p.m.