Norman Norm Benson Phillips

Norman Benson Phillips was born at his Grandfather Laughlin’s Swamp Creek Ranch near Bend, Oregon on November 4, 1929 to George and Ethel Phillips, one month after the stock market crash of October 1929. He spent his early childhood years there, but the family moved around a lot just to find work to survive. Some of his earliest education was at a Company Town Sawmill located near Modoc Point Oregon, where his father found work on the saw mill. It is said he got into trouble a few times walking the logs at the mill pond.

The family came to Perkin’s CA. in 1939 where they resided behind what was once Perkin’s Pool Hall. As a youth he attended a few different schools while working the Hop & Tomato farms. He attended Kit Carson and then went on to Sacramento High School. About midway through he took up flying as a hobby (2 seated Stearman Double wing aircraft) as well as plenty of hunting and fishing until he graduated in 1949. He had fond memories of his travels in his 1929 Ford Model A Panel Pickup throughout California.

He worked for a while in Denver Co, and Colorado Springs finding work in construction as a grader. He made friends easily and he would often tell the story about how he and a friend named Bucky Ingersoll, played a practical joke on Broadmoor Hotel in middle of the night. They planted the tail section of small plane in the hotel’s lake. The water was only 3 feet deep!

He was drafted on Feb. 6, 1951 into the U.S. Army, and trained at Fort Ord. PFC Norman B. Phillips, Company H, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division was wounded on Oct. 19, 1951 at Wonnam-Myong, Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart. He returned home on Nov. 6, 1952, where he was transferred into the reserves, and was finally discharged in 1956. Between 1952 and 1957 he had driven twice to Anchorage Alaska in a 1952 VW Bug. First time was for construction work, just after coming home from Korea. He stayed for a few months and then returned home and decided to enter Barber College. The second time was to work as a barber, only to arrive to a teamster strike. So he stayed for a few months, and then returned to California where he took jobs both in construction, and as a barber.

In 1963 he met his wife of 50 years, Isabel Ann Marfice. They were married on May 11, 1964. From 1953 to about 1975, he worked as a barber. In the early years he worked in others’ shops and then finally opened his own place in Rancho Cordova called, Norm’s Barber Shop, located near Farmers Market.

In 1975, Norm got a job as a painter with the UCD Medical Center here in Sacramento. This helped him provide the needed insurance for his growing family. He worked for UCD Medical Center for 17 years, and finally retired in 1991.

He spent his free time enjoying fishing, camping, gold panning, many Reno trips, and just enjoying life to fullest. Norman had been retired for the last 23 years, and at the time of his passing he was 84. Although his age and his health problems slowed him down in last few years, he cherished the time he spent with his wife and family every day. We all loved him deeply.

The Lord called Norman Benson Phillips Home on May 31, 2014. He passed quickly and was released from his health problems. He now enjoys heavenly paradise. He will be missed dearly by family and friends alike. But one day we will all be re-united in The Lords House.

He was preceded in death by his sons, Norman B. Phillips JR, and Christopher Alan Phillips, his parents George & Ethel Phillips, and brother Merle E. Phillips. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Isabel A. Phillips, his son Patrick J. Phillips, his brother Darrell L. Phillips, his sister Bernice C. Berry, and many nieces and nephews.

Family gathering on Mon. June 9, 2014, 5-7pm with Vigil to follow at 7pm at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, 5401 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tue. June 10, 2014 at 11am at All Hallows Catholic Church, 5501 14th Ave., Sacramento CA.

Arrangements under the direction of Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, Sacramento, CA.