Willard Aubrey Phillips, 80, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 24, 2018. He was surrounded and comforted by his family and Joanne, his wife and best friend, of 59 years. He was born on April 20, 1937, in McCreary County, KY, to the late Marvin and Pearle (Whitehead) Phillips. Willard was almost a lifelong Hoosier. He moved to Indiana in 1955 and married Joanne on November 8, 1958.
He retired from General Tire (GenCorp) in 1999 after more than 42 years as a skilled tradesman in the maintenance department. Willard and Joanne enjoyed traveling and owned a cottage at Kuhn Lake in Kosciusko County, IN, for over 40 years. They spent their summers there following his retirement. He was well-known and loved by his extended lake family and was an avid fisherman. He was an active member of Grace Community Church, loved a good game of cards, and had a wonderful sense of humor.
Willard will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife, Joanne (Sloderbeck) Phillips, Marion; sister, Oreda Murphy, Marion; children, Bradley (Doris) Phillips, Marion, and Beverly Phillips, Indianapolis; grandchildren, Chad (Janice) Phillips and Christopher (Brynn) Phillips, both from Marion, and Jordan Aubrey Kiffmeyer, Indianapolis; great-grandchildren, Alexis Nemes, Adison Phillips, and Anderson Phillips, all from Marion; and great-great-grandchild, Riley King, Marion.
He is predeceased by five siblings, Lloyd, Lena, Ray, Glenn, and Sonja.
The family will receive visitors from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion.
Services to celebrate Willard’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Tom Mansbarger officiating. Final resting place will be at Grant Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-1942 or the Grant County Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 63, Marion, IN 46952.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses of Progressive Cancer Care, Marion, for their nine years of outstanding medical care and emotional support.
Online condolences may be made at www.nswcares.com.