Thomas Phillips' Obituary
Thomas Phillips passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at his home in Covington, LA after nearly two years of confinement.
He was born on March 28, 1920 in Galveston, TX. Son of the late Benjamin Phillips of New Brighton, England and the late Catherine Rhind Phillips of Wales, England. He graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, where he was the manager of the Golf Team and a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Following college, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Officers Training Program. After graduation from the Naval Program he was sent to London, England for bomb detonation training. He completed his training and was sent to San Francisco, CA to await his orders. While in San Francisco he met his devoted wife Elleo Hittell Phillips. The following year, 1943, they were married. Tom was then deployed to the U.S.S. Indianapolis as Bomb Disposal Officer until August 1945. He served on her until hours before which she sailed to deliver the Atom Bomb, after which she was sunk bythe Japanese. At the end of the war he was discharged as a Lt. Commander. He returned to Galveston, TX to work for Wm. Parr & Co. where he became partner/owner of Phillips Parr Steamship Co. He then moved to Covington, LA and had an office in New Orleans, LA. He retired in 1979. Tom was an avid golfer and member of Covington Country Club, where he served on the Board of Directors. He was also a member of the ROB’s and Louisiana Senior Golf Association. He delivered meals for VAAN, in Mandeville, LA for years.
He is survived by his loving wife; five children, Tom Phillips, Jr. and his wife Betty of Austin, TX, Lou P. Thompson and her husband Marion of Helena, MT, Ted Phillips and his wife Renita of Houston, TX, Terry Phillips and his partner Sherrel Alack of Mandeville and Jocelyn P. Cunningham and her husband Tom of Cincinnati, OH; beloved grandfather of Jenny Phillips, Alli Connorton and her husband Matt, Catherine Humphry and her husband Blayke, Emily, Amy and Megan Thompson, and T.J. and Mary Cunningham.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the memorial services on Monday, July 23, 2007 at 10:00 AM at Christ Church, 120 South New Hampshire, Covington, LA 70433.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to Concern Care Hospice, 805 East Rutland Street, Covington, LA 70433.
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