1941-2025

Phillip C. “Bud” Cone, 83, of Memphis died Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Oak Ridge Assisted Living in Richmond. He was born Sept. 28, 1941, to Raymond Thomas and Lois Helena (Stabler) Cone at their home in rural Scotland County. Phil graduated in 1959 from Memphis High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Phil proudly served our country for four years and was honorably discharged in January 1964.

He married the former Helen E. Tovar on Feb. 1, 1964, in Irwindale, Calif. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before Helen passed away on April 16, 2016.

Phil worked for 35 years for Mason & Hangar in Middleton, Iowa. After retiring, he enjoyed having coffee with his friends and neighbors in the morning, and in the afternoon would visit the recreation center to play snooker.

The most important thing in Phil’s life was his family. He was so immensely proud of his three grandsons and six great-grandchildren that brought a new joy to his life. He was deeply loved by his family and will be missed, but not forgotten.

In addition to his wife Helen, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Phyllis, and son-in-law, Joe Milburn; parents; stepfather, Russell Aldridge; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Walter and Pauline Tovar; and mother-inlaw and father-in-law, Carmen and Jim Torres.

He is survived by his daughter, Crystal (Rob) Jones of Richmond; grandsons, Sam (Betty) Jones of Liberty, Preston (Shelbie) Jones of Richmond and Zach Milburn (Natasha Siver) of Memphis. He also is survived by his great-grandchildren: Annabelle, Olivia, Finn and Del Jones of Richmond; and Alex and Beth Milburn of Memphis.

Other survivors include his two half-brothers and a half-sister, Harry (Dee) Aldridge of Eugene, Ore., Steve (Yumiko) Aldridge of Springfield, Ore., and Betty Aldridge of Burns, Ore.; three brothers-in-law, Richard Tovar, Gerald Tovar and Walter Tovar of Loveland, Colo.; sister-in-law, Grace (Jerry ) Maetas of Fort Riley, Kan.; four nephews; three nieces; and several friends.

Memorial services were held Thursday, May 8, at the Gerth Funeral Chapel in Memphis, Mo., with Pastor Richard Lourcey officiating. Inurnment, with military rites, was in the Brock Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Shirkey Hospice in Richmond or Brock Cemetery and can be left at or mailed to Gerth Funeral Service; 115 S. Main St.; Memphis, MO 63555.

Condolences may be sent to the family of Phil Cone by signing the online guestbook at gerthfuneralservice.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Gerth Funeral Service in Memphis.