Robert James Phillips departed this life on March 27, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born to William E. and Lovella Joyce Phillips-Reed on April 26, 1931 in Fowler, Colorado. Bob was the fifth child of a large family; the spine in the book of eleven. Bob was a Diesel Mechanic for many years, employed by Empire-Wallace. He worked on and with large equipment, ending his career as appraiser, having traveled over many states and Canada. One could listen all day to the adventures he encountered while at work and his travels getting there. He tells of driving down a rather winding canyon road hauling some machinery and seeing a wheel rolling alongside the truck and down the road ahead of him. He soon discovered that the run-away wheel had come from the trailer he was hauling.
Bob was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, presently at Liberty United Methodist Church. He was instrumental in leveling ground for the building of the new Camarillo United Methodist church in California. He enjoyed many things, traveling, photography, camping, hiking, flying his Cessna, anything mechanical, antique farm museums, music, going to car auctions, tractor and car shows, and NASCAR. He belonged to the Topa-Topa-Flywheelers tractor club in Camarillo, California, the Arizona Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association in Arizona, The Mercedes Benz Club America-Channel Islands Section in California and the Mercedes Benz Club America-Desert Stars Section in Arizona.
Family was very important to Bob. He tells of just wanting to get home to his family after spending time on jobs miles from home base. Vacation time was family time and he made the most of it. His vacations ranged from national parks, fishing trips, and camping to family reunions, visiting family and taking his mother and father-in-law with him to visit relatives in Oklahoma.
Bob and Wilvina (Billie) Harris were married on July 29, 1951 in the Bowen Community Church near Monte Vista, Colorado. They had five children, a girl and four boys. Rebecca, Biff, and James Brent were born in Colorado. James died a few days after his birth. Bryan and Brett were born in Arizona. Billie died March 12, 1999. They had been married forty-six years. Their daughter, Rebecca (Becky) died September 30, 2011.
Bob married Lucille and her four children and their families joined the crowd. Lucille’s large extended family heartily embraced Bob and his family with much love. Life went on with the ordinary and the usual, for Bob and Lucille, with some traveling to break up the routine. One trip was with a student’s Arts & Language tour in Europe. The itinerary included Paris, Rome, the Vatican and much more. They attended school reunions, both having graduated from the same school in Colorado; family reunions, many family events, and tractor and car club events. They enjoyed sightseeing, traveling the coast highway, exploring San Francisco, and doing the delightful DUCK tour in Seattle. They always visited relatives and old friends along the way. Bob enjoyed his introduction to Ojo Caliente, one of Lucille’s favorite spots. There is so much to tell of and about Bob. He was a fine man, lived a good life and was an excellent traveling companion. He will be missed so much. He leaves a large family including many who are steps, but he is Dad and Grandpa to them all.
Bob is survived by his wife, Lucille Phillips nee Lehnerz; sons, Buford “Biff” Phillips (Shirley) of California, Bryan Phillips (Karen) of California, Brett Phillips of Wisconsin; sisters, Lois Snider, Eunice Rice; brother, Dale Phillips, Sr.; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Joyce Phillips, wife Wilvina Phillips; infant son, James Brent Phillips; daughter, Rebecca Phillips Long; several brothers, Joseph, Jack, William and Don Phillips; sisters, Eris McLeod, Nadine Lillpop and Gladys Scriven.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Liberty United Methodist Church, 19900 W Us Highway 85, Buckeye, AZ 85326. Burial will be at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Camarillo, California. The family suggests that donations be made to Liberty United Methodist Church.
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