Phillip Martin Rafferty

February 21, 1925 ~ May 14, 2011

© Examiner-Enterprise

Submitted by: Glenn Shroads

Phillip Martin Rafferty, 86, of Bartlesville died Saturday, May 14th at Bartlesville Care Center. He was born in Konawa, Oklahoma on February 21, 1925, the son of Martin Ernest Rafferty and Grace Helen Weld. He was raised on a 40-acre farm in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma where he attended Catholic school. He later attended Bethel Consolidated High School, in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, completing just one year of high school before being called to service in World War II.

Phillip was inducted into service July 13, 1943, private first class assigned to the 25th Medical Depot Company based in India and Burma. In the service he drove trucks; hauling rations, supplies, equipment, and personnel, including the wounded, over all types of roads in all types of weather. In total, Phillip served 20 months in the China-India-Burma theater. It was during this time that Phillip lost the index and middle fingers of his left hand, a "trademark" for those who knew him well, especially his children and grandchildren who spent untold hours playing with the stump of his middle finger. Phillip was honorably discharged from service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on March 16, 1946 having received the Meritorious Unit Award, American Theater Service Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and Victory Ribbon.

He returned to Shawnee, Oklahoma after the war where he met Anna Sue Brown. They were married in El Reno, Oklahoma on November 30, 1948, a marriage that has lasted over 62 years. Phillip first worked at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, before eventually moving to Ponca City, Oklahoma to work for the Santa Fe Railroad, and eventually the United State Postal Service where he worked for over 20 years before retiring in 1983.

Phillip was a member of the Church of Christ, and served the church in many capacities throughout the years, but was most active in his role as Deacon for Golden Age Ministries while at Ponca City. He later moved with Anna to Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He kept a beautiful lawn, tended to his pecan trees, and enjoyed many years there before finally relocating to Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 2001 where he became a member of the Adams Boulevard Church of Christ. Phillip was also a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, and held every office within the organization. He logged over 25,000 miles transporting veterans to and from their healthcare appointments at the VAMC in Oklahoma City. He also served as a volunteer at Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville.

Phillip is survived by his loving wife, Anna, of the home; his four children, Michael Rafferty and wife Connie of Torrington, Wyoming, Marty Rafferty and wife Laura of Liberty, Missouri, Carla Rafferty of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Marc Rafferty and wife Michelle of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 9 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.

A short memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 18th at Walker-Brown Funeral Home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at Dale Cemetery in Dale, Oklahoma at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 65, 300 E. Angus Ave., Dewey, OK 74029.