PHILIP LOLLAR

THE COLONY, Texas-A memorial service will be held in Golden City, Mo. at a future date, for Philip Orrin Lollar, 89, The Colony, who died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. A Masonic interment at the IOOF Cemetery will also be held.

Mr. Lollar was born July 31, 1926, in Hillsdale, Kan., to Fred O. and Nell Emily (Wilson) Lollar. His dad was an agent-telegrapher for the Frisco Railroad and as such worked in numerous depots. He was indoctrinated in the ways of a railroad family at an early age, attending nine different grade schools before his 10th birthday. He was a 1944 graduate of Golden City (Mo.) High School and in July of that year he entered the U.S. Army to join in his country's participation in World War II, serving in Europe during the final phase of the conflict. Prior to leaving the service he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

That same month and year he married Mary Gayle Kentner and the union lasted for 71 ½ years. To this union a son, Rex, and a daughter, Emily Gayle, were born. His daughter predeceased him in 1987.

Mr. Lollar worked for the Frisco Railroad from age 14 and was an agent-telegrapher for them until 1965, when he was transferred from the operations division to the sales division. He was promoted to district manager of the traffic department in North Carolina in 1975. He retired in 1981 and he and his wife returned to north Texas, residing in a home they built on 70 acres outside of Bowie.

Due to their daughter's illness, they sold that property and moved to Grand Prairie, Texas, to be nearer to her and after her passing they moved to Durant, Okla. There, Mr. Lollar kept numerous fruit trees and a large garden until age and illness made it necessary to move to The Colony, to be near family.

He was a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, having been a member in good standing of Washington Lodge No. 87 in Greenfield, Mo. for over 60 years.