Philip Wayne Boring
Philip Wayne Boring
January 24, 1940 - April 13, 2019
Philip Wayne Boring, Sr, 79, of Kingsland, Texas, strummed his last chord on April 13, 2019. The lively melody of his life began on Jan. 24, 1940, when he was born to James Eric and Bessie Lee (Pippin) Boring in Austin, Texas. Phil grew up in Austin and attended McCallum High School. At the age of nineteen, he married his 16-year-old sweetheart Betty – marking the beginning of a life-long love song. The tempo picked up when, a year later, Phil and Betty had a son, Philip, Jr.
Phil was a hard worker and started his career as an appliance repairman working for McNair’s Appliance in Austin. He was very intelligent and became very skilled in his work. After 16 years of working for McNair’s, Phil decided it was time to write a new song and started his own business. He and Betty opened a repair shop in Kingsland, Texas, called “Phil’s Appliance Service,” and quickly built a customer base in the community. Within a few months, they had surpassed their expected call volume and business was booming. Over the next 33 years, Phil’s appliance repair shop became an irreplaceable component of the community.
He was dependable, trustworthy and could fix just about anything. Clients brought him old, broke down appliances that seemed a lost cause and he would work his magic and have it singing in no time. And you could count on the appliances he fixed to continue running…for a very long time.
When Phil wasn’t working, he was traveling around the country with Bluegrass bands – The Polk Brothers and Glory Bound Boys, being a few. Phil and Betty would travel with a whole caravan of people from state to state playing gigs, with Phil as the lead guitarist. Phil loved his bluegrass family and would often say, “there are no better people than bluegrass people!”
Just like a bluegrass song is made more vivid by the harmony of multiple instruments, Phil’s life was made complete by his family. Betty was the banjo to his guitar – they were inseparable. Over their nearly 60 years together, they were apart for 3 nights. They were more than a married couple, they were best friends and companions. Phil was very close to his son Phil, Jr., and grandson Cameron. These men made his chest puff out a little in pride.
Phil will be remembered for his years of service fixing appliances in the Kingsland community, for the many weekends spent strumming his guitar to the lively tune of Bluegrass and for his loving devotion to his family. His memory will remain alive in the happy hum of a refrigerator and in the flatpicking of a bluegrass tune.
Phil is survived by his wife, Betty Boring of Kingsland, Texas; son, Philip Boring Jr. (Lisa) of Jarrell, Texas; grandson, Cameron Boring (Amy Jo) of Salado, Texas; granddaughter, Kaleigh Parker (Daniel) of Katy, Texas; sister, Jean Inman of Austin, Texas; sister-in-law, Josie Boatright (Jerry) of Kingsland, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Bessie Boring; brothers, V.C “Bud” Boring, Marvin Boring, and Gerald Boring; and baby sister, Hazel Boring.
Graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2019 at Bluffton Cemetery, in Bluffton, Texas, with Pastor Johnny Sawyer officiating. An online registry may be signed at PutnamCares.com.
Phil’s care entrusted to Putnam Funeral Home and Crematory, 145 Texas Avenue, Kingsland, Texas 78639. (325) 388-0008.
