Joseph Frederick Phifer

Joseph Frederick Phifer of Hainesport died Friday, October 15, 2010 at Virtua Memorial Hospital after complications from a fall at home. He was 96 years old. Born in Medford in the old stand-pipe house on Mill Street on July 11, 1914, he was the third child and only son of the late Joseph Phifer and Emma (Speaker) Phifer, tenant farmers, who lived on farms in and around Medford. In later years they lived on the Emmons’ farm in Pemberton. When Joseph left the farm, he worked for E.H. Kaiser in Florence, Hartshorne House Movers and on Public Service busses. He married Hilda Agneta Olofsson on December 5, 1936, he proposed after having met her just two weeks earlier, and they lived with his parents on the Emmons’ farm in Pemberton. On May 6, 1937, as they sat eating ice cream in the ice cream shop at Crossroads in Medford, they listened to the radio as news of the fiery crash of the Hindenburg was broadcast. In 1938, Carolyn, the first of two daughters was born. That same year Joseph began work with Greyhound Bus in Philadelphia servicing Firestone Mileage tires. After Carolyn’s birth, they lived with her maternal grandparents, Edwin and Anna Olofsson in Philadelphia, before moving to Dover Street a few years later. In 1946 they moved to 121 Washington Street in Mount Holly. Their second daughter, Marilyn, was born in 1947. They moved to Creek Road in Hainesport in 1976. Besides working for Firestone for 41 years, Joseph also worked locally on the weekends for Jack Richardson, wholesale florist, and Charlie Fisher, plowing and planting his fields. Joseph was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Hilda, his son-in-law, Robert E. Horner, and sisters: Verna (Phifer) Nippins, and Doris Speaker. He is survived by his daughters: Carolyn Horner of Mt. Holly, and Marilyn Phifer of Lumberton; grandchildren Linda Horner of Cinnaminson, Mark Horner of Longview, Texas, Jennifer Horner of Mt. Holly; and Jarred (Julie) Corn of Lumberton, Jason (Michelle) Corn of Hainesport, and Joseph (Allison) Corn of Hainesport. He is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Timothy, Christian, and Hayley Corn of Lumberton; Ryan, twins Matthew & Lauren Corn; and Madison, Lexie, and Kyrsten Corn all of Hainesport; and Blake Ward of Louisiana; and his nephew, Lester Nippins of Hainesport. He is also survived by his many friends at the Westampton Diner, his second home. Joseph was a life-long and oldest member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hainesport where he mowed grass in years past and served on the counting committee. A memorial service will take place on Thursday at 10:00 AM at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, 910 Marne Highway, Hainesport, NJ 08036. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family at Sunset Memorial Park in Feasterville, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the Blessings Fund at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at the address above.

Joseph Frederick Phifer

July 11, 1914 - October 15, 2010