Franklin Arthur Phillips

Franklin Arthur Phillips passed away on August 27, 2023, in New Carlisle, Indiana after a brief illness.  He was born February 1, 1930, in Edison, Ohio. Frank was the third child of Davis A. and Grace (Weaver) Phillips.  He graduated from Mt. Gilead High School in 1948. 

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, whom he married August 2, 1953 in Mt. Gilead, Ohio at the First Presbyterian Church.  They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on August 2, 2023 in New Carlisle, Indiana where Rev. Terry Williams of the Chillicothe, Ohio Orchard Hill United Church of Christ renewed their vows. 

He is also survived by his daughter, Brenda D. Phillips and son-in-law, David M. Neal of South Bend, Indiana, his sister, Carol Corfman, of Upper Sandusky, and his great-godson Nathan Pike of Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Virginia, Irene, Maxine, and Helen, and his brothers Hubert, Ronald James, Charles, and Harold among other beloved family members.

Frank served in the U.S. Army from March 1951 to March of 1953, where he worked as a medic in Germany during the Korean era conflict. He attended basic training at Camp Breckinridge, KY where he spent time working in the kitchen.  He was then assigned to Karlsruhe, Germany where he served as a medic and conducted water testing.  He enjoyed traveling Europe and was honorably discharged as a Corporal.  He was the Veteran's Administration Northern Indiana Veteran of the Week on August 27, 2021.  In his later years, he enjoyed wearing his veteran hat and celebrated our military at numerous events. There was always an American Eagle displayed on every house he lived in.

Frank was employed as an assembler at Galion Iron Works in April of 1953 and retired from there in May, 1992 after 39 years of service when it was then Komatsu. He and his family loved spotting Galion road graders all over the U.S.  He was an active member of the Colonel Crawford Lions Club from 1972 to 2001 and then joined the Jacksonville, Alabama Lions Club until 2005.  He received the 1990 Top Rose Salesman award from the Colonel Crawford Lions Club and was awarded the Melvin Jones Lions Club Award from the Lions Club International Foundation in 1995 for dedicated humanitarian services. 

Frank was a member of Orchard Hill United Church of Christ in Chillicothe, Ohio and celebrated membership in the Mt. Gilead First Presbyterian Church, the Galion First Presbyterian Church, the Jacksonville, Alabama First Presbyterian Church, and the Stillwater, Oklahoma First Presbyterian Church.  His lifelong service to the Lord brought him joy as he participated in church benefits, service work to others, and making Bible sets for children's worship services. He loved music, particularly Rachmaninoff.  His favorite hymn, which he sang frequently as a soloist in church, was "How Great Thou Art." Along with his wife and friends, he sang on the radio and in church choirs.

Frank enjoyed woodworking, building additions on his homes, and building items for the churches.  He also collected pocketknives, pocket watches, and ducks.  He loved his family dogs, especially Penny, Pandy, Lucy, and Sloopy. In his later years, he loved watching baseball and joined the family on football Saturdays to cheer on The Ohio State University Buckeyes.  He was known for having a great sense of humor and a constant and friendly smile which everyone commented on through his last day on earth.

The family is grateful to their Phillips, Hoak, and Van Meter Families (Dennis, Kim, Jeff, Phil) and to close friends who are chosen family especially Sandy Keller, Debby and Mark Barron, Jeff and Linda Spencer, Linda Hocker, Barb Russo, Lynn and Gary Pike, Davina Studley, Sam Elkins, and Dan Griffiths.

A memorial service will be held at the Craven Chapel of Snyder Funeral Home (67 N Main St, Mt Gilead, OH 43338.  Visitation will begin at 10 am Thursday, August 31 followed by a memorial service at 11am officiated by Rev. Terry Williams.  Burial will be in Rivercliff Cemetery where his family is buried. Military honors will be observed.

Donations may be made to Orchard Hill United Church of Christ in Chillicothe, Ohio and to the Colonel Crawford (Ohio) Lions Club. 

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