Pharis Lynell Greene, was the son of the late Harlan Greene and Maebelle Dobbins Greene Ledbetter. Pharis was of the Baptist Faith. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he was a Prisoner of War from 1950-1953. During this time, Pharis earned a Purple Heart. Pharis was an active member of Tiger Survivors, an organization for Prisoners of War, He lived in Grover, North Carolina. He joined the Army on May 24, 1949. After basic training he was sent to Japan and was assigned to Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division in Northern Japan. When the Korean War started, Greene and many others were rushed to fill vacancies in the 24th Infantry Division in Southern Japan where he was a member of K Company, 34th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. He went with that unit to Korea and was captured by the North Korean Army on July 20th, 1950 near the South Korean town of Taejon after being wounded. He was a Prisoner of War in North Korea until 26 August 1953.The Tiger Survivors suffered under brutal captivity and 58% did not make it to freedom. They are still in unmarked graves in North Korea.
He was a lifetime member of the Gaston VFW Post #9337. He was a member of the Shelby Amateur Radio Club "Ham Radio" where he served as President for 3 years and helped set up the Ham Radio Fest at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. Pharis enjoyed making fish ponds at his home and had over 200 fish. In addition to his parents, Pharis is preceded in death by his wives, Louise Wall Greene and Jean Crain Greene; two brothers, C. B. Greene and Bill Greene; and a sister, Margaret Wright.

Pharis is survived by his wife, Libby Butler Greene; a son, Chris Greene and wife Joan of Greenville SC.; a daughter, Sondra Lowery and husband Kim of Rutherfordton; four step-sons, Scott Greene and wife Sharon of Franklinton, Gerald Lail and wife Renee of Shelby, Chad Lail and wife Angela of Kings Mountain, and Donavon Lail and wife Jenny of Shelby; a stepdaughter, Debbie Horne and husband R. L. of Shelby; a sister, Helen Leigh of Charlotte; sister-in-law, Ruth Greene of Cherryville; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.