Obituary for Phil Deschner

Phil H. Deschner, resident of Ponca City, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014 in Ponca City, OK, at the age of 95.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2014 at First United Methodist Church with Chaplain Tom Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

Phil was born July 8, 1919 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His Parents were Phil and Estelle Deshner.

He attended school in New Orleans, Brenham and Port Authur, Texas, and Alva, Oklahoma, where he graduated from high school in 1936.

Phil was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma business fraternity at the University of Oklahoma from which he graduated in 1940 with a BS in Business, majoring in accounting.

He and Mary Wiggs were married on July 14, 1940, in Jefferson Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from September, 1942 to February, 1946 at Enid Army Air Field in Enid, Oklahoma.

Phil acquired his CPA certificate in December, 1946. Started working for Conoco, Inc. in March of 1946 and retired in July, 1979. Most of the time working in Ponca City, but he also had special assignments in Houston, Texas; New York City; Caracas; Venezuela; Hamburg Germany; Lakeland, Florida; and Costa Mesa, California.

He always belonged to the Methodist Church wherever he lived. Phil enjoyed volunteering, not only at his church, but he spent six years on the Supervisory Committee of Conoco Credit Union, nine years keeping books and serving as treasurer of the Ponca City Red Cross, and more than ten years in various departments at St. Joseph Hospital.

Mr. Deschner enjoyed sports both as a participant and as a spectator. He played basketball and tennis at Alva High School. In later life he acquired more than 50 trophies and medals in tennis, table tennis, bowling and pool. A lifetime follower of Oklahoma University football, he attended the Texas games in Dallas, Orange and Sugar Bowls as well as games at Notre Dame, North Carolina, and Southern California Universities.

Phil and his wife enjoyed traveling, visiting 47 states and over 20 foreign countries. His wife died on their 55th wedding anniversary in 1995. Survivors include his sister Philelle McBrayer of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and nephew Charles McBrayer and his wife Candace of Laguna, Niguel, California, and nephew Phil McBuyer of Tulsa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Via Christi Village 1601 Academy Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home