Robert E. Phillips, 87 of Princeton, passed away on
Saturday, February 15, 2014 at River Oaks Health Campus in Princeton after a
short illness.
Bob was born in Princeton, Indiana on August 30, 1926 to parents Charles A.
Phillips, Sr. and Goldie A. Coomer.
He was raised in the Princeton Church of the
Nazarene. Bob graduated in the Princeton High School class of 1944 early so he
could serve his country in WWII. He was in the US Navy, serving on landing
vessel LSM 327 in the south Pacific, participating in campaigns at Guam,
Saipan, and Iwo Jima. When the war ended he returned home to Princeton in April
of 1946 and was married to Patricia L. Gilmour on December 22, 1946 at the
Princeton Methodist Church. The two were married for 62 years until Pat's death
in 2008.
In the late 1950’s, Bob was in business with Earl Kirk at K&P Shell station
on the corner of Spruce and Main Streets. He was active in maintaining and
racing stock cars. In 1960 he took a position as a mail carrier at the
Princeton post office and retired as assistant postmaster in 1989 after 29
years of service. In the early years of retirement, he and his wife Pat
traveled extensively through the entire United States and enjoyed watching
their granddaughters’ sports. In later years Bob took pleasure in taking care
of his home, lawn, and cars as well as participating in the VFW funeral detail,
giving due recognition to deceased veterans. He was a past commander and life
member of American Legion Post 25 and was a life member of the VFW #1147,
Prince Masonic Lodge 231, Princeton Elks Lodge #634 as well as the Forty &
Eight U.S. veterans' honor organization.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pat in 2008, and his only
brother and best friend Charles, Jr. in 2011. He was a man of great integrity
and honesty and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Family left
to remember his life include daughter Linda Barton of Princeton and son James
Phillips of Indianapolis; granddaughters Robyn Slayton of Princeton and Whitney
Barton (Ryan) Fonte of Fort Branch, IN;
great-grandchildren Taylor and Parks Fonte; nephews Tyk (Bev) Phillips of Marietta, GA and Mike Phillips of
Princeton.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at Colvin
Funeral Home in Princeton. Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in
Princeton.
Visitation from 1 p.m. until service time on Wednesday
at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided by retired military
veterans.
