PHELPS, George O. (Dutch)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ March 6, 2007 George O. "Dutch" Phelps, 79, died at his home surrounded by his family, Feb. 28, 2007. Dutch came from one of Arizona's oldest pioneer families. He was born April 14, 1927, to Owen and Margaret Phelps. He was raised in Phoenix. Dutch dropped out of Phoenix Union High School in 1944 at the age of 17 to enlist in the U. S. Marine Corps. On April 1, 1945, Dutch landed on the beach of Okinawa. He spent his 18th birthday pinned down in a foxhole by a sniper. Dutch was honorably discharged in May 1946. Dutch got his GED and took some college classes, then went to work for the Phoenix Police Department. After 20 years he retired and moved with his beloved wife, Natalie, to Round Valley in 1969. Not one to sit at home, Dutch became town marshall of Eagar, and then worked as an investigator for the Apache County Attorney for three years. In 1982 he served as Justice of the Peace for the Round Valley Precinct for 10 years. For the last few years, Dutch had put in hours of community service working on the new John H. Slaughter American Legion Post in Springerville. Dutch and other veterans had a great time with this project and took great pride in calling themselves the "Geritol Construction Company." Dutch was the post commander of the American Legion Post 30 of Springerville, post commander of the VFW, Master Mason and a retired member of the Fraternal Order of Police in Phoenix. Dutch is survived by his wonderful wife of 59 years, Natalie, daughter Sharon (Julian) McAllister of Bellingham, Wash.; son George Jr. (Jenny) Phelps of Phoenix; brothers Dave (Marie) Gustafuson of Diamond Springs, Calif., John Phelps (Sandy) of Round Valley; sister Sandra Phelps (Jerry) Baker, Phoenix; many nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will greatly miss him. Dutch rejoins his parents Guy Owen and Margaret Phelps and his sister Katy Keith who preceded him in death. The Phelps family would like to express their gratitude and love to RTA Hospice for the love and care they gave to Dutch and asks that in lieu of flowers donations may be given to RTA Hospice, 1789 W. Commerce Dr., Lakeside, AZ 85929. A visitation was held March 5, 2007. A Celebration of Dutch's life will be held Tuesday, March 6, at 11 a.m. at The Community Presbyterian Church in Springerville. Interment will be held Wednesday, March 7 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at 1 p.m, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements.