Charles A. Phillips Jr. of Pinellas Park, Fla., passed away Feb. 17. He was born in Princeton, Ind., on Aug. 29, 1923.

He graduated from the School of Banking in Madison, Wisc., and became president of Gibson County Bank in Princeton.

During his retirement years, he was an avid golfer, serving as president of the Mainlands Golf League. He had five "holes in one," loved to square dance and served as president of his club.

He also served as Master of Ceremonies for the National Square Dance Convention in Orlando, Fla.

He is survived his loving wife, Gladys Godare Phillips; sons, Tyk and Michael Phillips; grandson, Todd Phillips; six stepchildren, John, Jerri and Jim Johanningsmeier, Jill Lopez, Jane Brown and Jo Tarrh; brother, Robert Phillips, nieces and nephews; 15 step grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marion Stumpf Phillips and his parents, Charles and Goldie (Coomer) Phillips.

He was a member of the Shrine, Scottish Rite, Masons, Elks, American Legion, 40 & 8, Sword of Bunker Hill and a Kentucky Colonel. Memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home of Seminole, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.

"A Tribute to Charlie"

Charles Alexander "Charlie" Phillips, Jr. 87, a former Princeton resident and civic leader, passed away in Pinellas Park, Florida Thursday February 17, 20011 after a lengthy illness. During his almost 40 years in banking at the former Gibson County Bank in Princeton (now Old National), Charlie was one of Princeton's most well respected and admired men of his time. Also during his tenure in banking he held every position from bookkeeper to President & CEO. He was the youngest person to be elected to the board of directors, a position held long after his retirement. He was class president of his graduating class of Princeton High School in 1941, and was on the reunion committee for several years. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of banking in Madison, Wisconsin. He was a WWII veteran with the U.S. Navy and Navel Air corps, and became a flight instructor before his discharge. He was a Kentucky Colonel, served on the Princeton City Council for two consecutive terms, and was a former lifetime member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Princeton (which his mothers family was of the founding members), and also the First United Methodist Church in Princeton. He was a past member of the Princeton Rotary Club, and Princeton Country Club. He was a member of the Hadi Shrine, Masonic Lodge and was a 32nd degree Mason, a lifetime member of the Princeton Elks, VFW post#1147, and American Legion post#25 and 40/8. He was a baseball player and coach with the Princeton American Legion team, and played for the White Sox in his younger years. He was a coach for the Princeton Little League for many years. He was responsible in helping to get the Brumfield overpass constructed.
Born in Princeton on August 29, 1923, he was the oldest son of Charles Alexander and Goldie (Coomer) Phillips. He lived most of his life in Princeton until his retirement when he moved to Florida on a permanent basis. In his retirement, he was involved with the Shrine and Elks in Florida, was a circuit square dancer, and very active in golfing. He and his wife Gladys traveled extensively until his illness.
Memorial Services will be at 11 AM on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, officiated by Rev. Lynn Marino. Burial will be at Oddfellows Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation will be from 10 AM until service time on Friday, March 11th at the funeral home.
VFW Post#1147 will provide military rites at the cemetery.