Chaplain Colonel Philip "Phil" Jerone Fain

Chaplain Colonel Philip Jerone “Phil” Fain, United States Air Force, Retired, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at his home in Chapin, South Carolina. A husband, father, grandfather, minister, and veteran of both the United States Navy Reserve and United States Air Force, Phil devoted his life’s work to faith, service, and the spiritual care of others. His ministry carried him from civilian congregations to military communities across the United States and overseas.

Born on January 11, 1945, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, he was a son of the late James Lewis and Willie Nora (Evans) Fain. Phil graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 1963 and began his military service that same year. His journey would encompass naval aviation, theological education, parish ministry, and a distinguished career in the Air Force Chaplain Service.

Phil served in the Naval Air Reserves from March 1963 through March 1969 as a rated aircrewman. His early assignments included Naval Air Station Marietta, Georgia, and Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. He completed an active-duty tour from 1964 to 1966, including service aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in 1965 and 1966 during the Vietnam War. Those years gave him firsthand experience of military life before he returned to the armed forces as a Chaplain.

While stationed in Virginia Beach, Phil met Judith, known to family and friends as Judy, who would become his wife of 59 years. Together, they built a family and made a home wherever his military career took them. Their life together included three countries, nine states, and twenty-seven moves. Through those many changes, they raised their three children, Michael, Lee, and Carrie. After his retirement, Phil and Judy settled in Chapin to enjoy lake life.

As he pursued his calling to ministry, Phil dedicated himself to the study of Scripture, religion, and pastoral care. He earned an Associate of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from North Greenville College in Tigerville, South Carolina, in 1969. In 1972, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He continued his education at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, earning a Master of Divinity degree with an emphasis in Pastoral Care in 1975.

From 1972 to 1979, Phil served as a pastor with the American Baptist Churches, USA. During this period, his civilian ministry and military calling came together. On March 12, 1974, he became an Air Force Chaplain candidate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. On December 15, 1975, he became a reserve Chaplain and first lieutenant, subsequently serving in reserve assignments at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and in Youngstown, Ohio.

In January 1979, Phil entered active duty in the United States Air Force. His promotion to Captain became effective on January 11, his thirty-fourth birthday. He began his active-duty Chaplain service at Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, where he served as a Protestant Chaplain until July 1982.

From 1982 to 1985, Phil served as a Protestant Chaplain at Bitburg Air Base in Germany. He then returned to his home state as senior Protestant Chaplain at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, serving there from 1985 to 1988. During that assignment, he was promoted to Major on July 1, 1986.

In June 1988, Phil began a year as installation staff Chaplain at Thule Air Base in Greenland. In that remote Arctic environment, his ministry placed him among service members stationed far from their homes and families. From Greenland, he moved to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where he served as senior Protestant Chaplain from 1989 to 1992.

On May 1, 1992, Phil was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. That same year, he began serving as senior Chaplain at Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, remaining there until June 1994. His leadership responsibilities then expanded to the development of fellow Chaplains. From July 1994 to September 1997, he served as Chief of Professional Development in the Office of the Command Chaplain at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Phil continued his own education throughout his career, completing Air Command and Staff College by seminar in 1982 and Air War College by seminar in 1995. These studies added military leadership training to his theological and pastoral education.

In September 1997, he became wing Chaplain at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. On June 1, 1998, he was promoted to Colonel. He served at Pope until June 2000, when he began another overseas assignment as wing Chaplain at Aviano Air Base, Italy. He remained at Aviano until January 2003.

Phil’s final active-duty assignment brought him to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, as wing Chaplain for the 1st Fighter Wing. There, he advised wing leadership on spiritual care, ethical leadership, moral welfare, and quality-of-life concerns affecting Air Force and Department of Defense personnel. He led a chapel staff of Chaplains, Chaplain assistants, and reservists, working alongside volunteers to support the religious needs of the base community.

His ministry at Langley also reached beyond the installation. In 2004, the chapel community helped establish a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a base exchange employee and her family. Catholic and Protestant congregations contributed substantial funds, and more than 350 volunteers signed up to help. Reflecting on the circumstances that brought the project together, Phil described it as “one of those God things.” The effort gave practical expression to his ministry through people working together to meet a neighbor’s need.

Phil retired in March 2006, concluding Air Force service that had begun with his Chaplain candidacy thirty-two years earlier. Across his assignments, he served in pastoral and leadership roles at the installation, wing, and command levels, contributing to the care of military communities and the development of fellow Chaplains.

His military record included numerous awards and decorations. Among them were the Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and one bronze oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Navy Unit Commendation; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars; and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. His decorations also included the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and recognition for overseas service, including service in the Arctic.

In retirement, Phil remained active in his faith and community. He was active at Chapin Christian Community Church and its Christian Fellowship Sunday School Class. He also maintained his connection to the Chaplain community. A photograph published in the Spring 2016 issue of The Military Chaplain showed him participating with the South Carolina chapter of the Military Chaplains Association in a donation presentation supporting relief efforts following the October 2015 floods.

His family’s memories of Phil belong alongside this record of service. His marriage to Judy, their years of raising children and making homes in new places, and their retirement together in Chapin form an enduring part of his story. He leaves his family with the shared history of those years and a life to remember beyond the titles and responsibilities of his career.

The Air Force hymn included in his retirement program, “Lord, Guard and Guide,” offers a fitting remembrance of his calling. Its prayer for protection, courage, and grace reflects the work to which he devoted so many years. May he rest in the peace of the God he served.

Phil is survived by his wife, Judy; sons, Philip Michael Fain (Anne) and Lee Andrew Fain (Brooke); daughter, Carrie Ann Mathis (Walter); grandchildren, Bryce and Kinsey Fain; and brother, Brent Warren Fain (Nancy Jo). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Ronnie Evans Fain and James Mickey Fain.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Jody Flowers, Paul Allen, and Albert Cox at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Chapin Christian Community Church. The family will receive friends one hour before the service, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial with full military honors will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared on his tribute wall through Whitaker Funeral Home, which is honored to serve the family of Chaplain Colonel Philip J. Fain.

Please address: Whitaker Funeral Home Attn: Phil Fain 939 Chapin Road PO Box 367 Chapin, SC 29036