William Phillips
December 25, 1923 — September 6, 2017
William A. “Bill” Phillips, 93 of Mt. Vernon, IL, passed away Wednesday September 6, 2017 at Nature Trail Health Care Center in Mt. Vernon. He was born December 25, 1923 in St. Louis, MO the son of Joseph and Clara (Gordy) Phillips. He was first married to Gertrude “Bobbe” Harris and she preceded him in death. He later married Rita (Bagley) Roome.
Bill was a longtime truck driver. In his early career, he was a machine operator for U.S. Cartridge Company, St. Louis, MO, manufacturing cartridges. He was a WWII Army Air Corp veteran and served with the 801st Engineers Aviation Battalion in the Azures and in Okinawa. He built runways and had to deal with snipers hiding on the island.He was a self-taught carpenter and was often hired by prominent community people upon witnessing his craftsmanship. He also enjoyed restoring VW Bugs, dancing, and cooking. He was a member of the Baptist Faith.
He is survived by his wife Rita; his daughters, Barbara Y. (Leon) Bademian of Virginia Beach, VA, Tammy (Danny) Rose of Springerton and Teresa Keen of Phoenix, AZ; daughter-in-law, Lisa Phillips of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, William Phillips, Jr., Jeffery Scott Phillips, David (Kim) Roberts, Stephanie (Robert) Plummer, Brian (friend, Marilu Heldreth) Harl, Brittany (Sean) Mead, Bethany (Jason) Waier, Dakota (Kevin) Baseden, Drae (Stephen) Simmons and Travon and Devon Offutt; great-grandchildren, Bryan and Rachel Roberts, Emily and Jacob Plummer, Morgan Phillips, Allyson Phillips, Braylee and Reid Waier and Kaiden and Karson Baseden; brother, Robert (Billie) Phillips of Fishers, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Bobbe; son, Stephen William Phillips; siblings, Mary, Eugene, David, Donald, Kenneth, Mildred, Marcy and Lettie.
Private family graveside services will be held on Saturday, September 16, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Crouch Cemetery, Belle Prairie City. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill's name may be contributed to the Marion, IL VA Medical Center, The Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Enfield is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at stendebackfamilyfuneralhome.com