Frank Alfred Phillips

It is with deep sadness our family announces the passing of Frank Phillips on the morning of May 8th 2022. Frank passed away peacefully with his loving family surrounding him at Nanaimo Seniors Village Long Term Care.

Frank is survived by his devoted wife and best friend in life Rena (nee Lisman), children Gillian Fisk (Doug), Mark Phillips (Cecilia), Linda Roden (Kevin) and Caroline Lainchbury (Brent). Grandchildren and great grandchildren, Steven Russel (Lindsay), Isiah, Ezekiel, Selah, and Eve-Anne. Jeannette Carr-Hilton (Cliff), Paisley and Duke. Scott Russel (Carrie Graham). Vanessa Bush (David), Abigail. Braeden Phillips (Bethan Curnow). Keely Roden (Dan Lockhart), Finley and Tessa. Troy Roden (Sahara). Darren Beattie (Danielle), Madison. Clarissa Oliver (Spencer), Kaitlyn and Audrey. Dana Lainchbury. Brother in law John Lisman, sisters- in-law Joyce Edmonds and Moira Johnstone (Neil). Numerous nieces and nephews in Canada, Scotland, USA and Taiwan.

He is predeceased by his father Alfred Phillips, mother Ann Phillips (nee Buckle) and sister Patricia Reinert and son-in-law Allan Russel.

Frank was born in London on February 11th 1933. He survived the London blitz and was one of the children who were part of the Pied Piper Operation after losing his mother during the bombing. After WW2 upon his return to London he was selected on his academic merits to a prestigious private school, Mill Hill Academy where he received an excellent education and eventually learning five different languages. Frank later joined the RAF for his national service. He did a tour in the Korean War as a navigator and on one communications and reconnaissance mission experienced a close call with a Russian MIG. The RAF is what took Frank to the Highlands of Scotland, specifically Kinloss. After leaving the RAF he began working for A.I. Welders in Inverness as a clerk and translator where he put his French skills to use. It was then in 1958 where he met the love of his life, Rena. They settled in Inverness where they raised their four children. Frank began working in the newspaper industry working his way up to Managing Editor of many Scottish newspapers including, Highland News, Football Times, Ross- Shire Journal and The North Star. Frank was highly involved in football (soccer) attaining the level of Division 1 and FIFA referee which took him all over Scotland. He even refereed a Scotland vs England exhibition game. Frank at an earlier age had played on the Arsenal reserve team as a young man. Frank was passionate about sports and played soccer, cricket, field hockey, boxing, basketball, golf, curling, darts and squash and he even tried skydiving.

On March 31st 1978 Frank and his family immigrated to Canada with the exception of his daughter Gillian who followed later with her family. They settled in Nanaimo where Frank began working in the newspaper industry again and eventually becoming the Managing Editor of the Nanaimo Daily Free Press. After leaving that position he became a Real Estate Agent at Nanaimo Realty prompted by a request from his friend Frank Ney. Frank was also an avid bathtub racer and served on the Bathtub Society for many years. He also served on numerous other committees including the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board as President, the Boxing Commission, and the Nanaimo Darts League to name a few. Frank also worked prior to his retirement with his son Mark at Marks Import Auto.

Upon retirement Frank and Rena enjoyed travelling including trips to Scotland, New Orleans, Mexico, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and also a cruise. He continued to enjoy sports playing regular games of golf, curling and darts. He attended a daily men’s coffee group where he engaged in many great conversations with friends. He especially loved spending time with his family, enjoying his many grandchildren; it was one of his greatest pleasures in life. Frank’s health deteriorated in the fall of 2017 and he moved in to Nanaimo Seniors Village on January 2018 where he was well cared for by the staff. We would like to thank them for their care, kindness and support they gave him and the family in his final years.

Following his cremation the family is having a private memorial. Words of condolences can be expressed on the obituary page of the website at firstmemorialnanaimo.com. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to a youth sports organization or BC Lung Association or Canadian Lung Association.

IF THERE EVER COMES A DAY WHEN WE CAN’T BE TOGETHER, KEEP ME IN YOUR HEARTS. I’LL BE THERE FOREVER

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.