John Phillip ‘Phil’ Kellar

Long-time Morganton resident John Phillip ‘Phil’ Kellar, 74, died Saturday, June 6 in Norfolk, Virginia following a prolonged illness. He was born on December 1, 1934 in Harrison County Missouri to the late Lula Viola Shaver Kellar and Francis Anthony Kellar. He spent his adolescence in Grand Rapids, Michigan.Phil was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force stationed in England. He was graduated from the Kendall School of Design with a degree in Furniture Design and subsequently moved to Morganton, where he began his life-long career in the furniture industry. In 1962, he married Millie Dean Brittain of Morganton, who was his wife of 40 years until her death in 2002.Phil was a designer for Drexel Furniture Company in Morganton, Bernhardt Furniture in Lenoir and Universal Furniture in High Point and taught classes in Furniture Design at Western Piedmont Community College. He was an active member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church.Surviving are his daughters Laura Kellar Fullton and Christophe of Lausanne Switzerland and Diana Kellar Espino and husband, Oscar, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; his sister Jeanne Kellar Beaty of Alberta, Canada; his brother David Lawrence Kellar and wife, Lee, of Northville, Michigan; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Millie Brittain Kellar and his brother Charles William Lethco.Burial will be 11:15 am Thursday June 11, 2009 at Forest Hill Cemetery. A Celebration of Phil’s life will be held 12 noon Thursday June 11, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Adam C. Bowling officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the parlor at the First Presbyterian Church. Memorials contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 100 Silver Creek Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.