Fredrick Martin Phillips

Fred was born on September 28, 1944 in Stillwell, OK, the son of William Fredrick Phillips and Minnie Lucille Phillips.

Fred is survived by his brother, Jimmy Paul Rollman and wife Anita of Oklahoma City, OK; numerous nieces and nephews, long-time neighbors, and friends.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; brother William Jack Dale; sister Patricia Marie Upton (Kiker); his wife of 55+ years and one and only love, Betty (Butch) Lou Bruce; and his beloved Pekinese, Killer.

Fred and Butch married on August 15, 1964 in Seminole, Oklahoma. Within two years Fred enlisted in the U.S. Army and was soon sent to Vietnam. While in the military, he received numerous medals, ribbons, and awards, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Aircraft Crewmember Wings, Vietnam Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Following Fred’s military service, he and Butch resided in Moore, OK for their entire married life. Together they weathered many a storm, including an EF5 tornado on May 3, 1999 that totally destroyed their home.

Fred retired from Tinker Air Force Base in 1999 with 30+ years of federal service. During much of his career he worked as a Welder and Production Engineer. Fred was very well suited for these positions, because to say that he was a perfectionist would be putting it mildly. Every endeavor that Fred attempted was accomplished with meticulous perfection. Whether it was something as trivial as hanging pictures on a wall or as complex as the building of a race car, he was always the over achiever. Fred’s prepared comments mention the fact that he built a race car, but he unpretentiously failed to describe it -- a 1991 Pontiac Grand Am with a 541 Cubic Inch Butler Pontiac engine, capable of at least 150 miles per hour in a quarter mile.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of the Norman Veteran’s Center and Frontier Hospice for all the compassionate care provided for Fred.

A visitation for Fred will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Advantage Funeral & Cremation Service-South Chapel, 7720 South Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, June 7, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 2301 E. Indian Hills Road, Norman, OK 73071 with burial to proceed at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AdvantageSouth.com for the Phillips family.