Woodrow Wilson 'Woody' Phillips, 83

LAUREL - Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Phillips of Laurel died peacefully in the arms of his wife on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, with his family by his bedside. He was 83.

Woody proudly served his country as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was a pillar of Portsville United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of trustees.

Woody left high school during the Great Depression to help his father on the family farm; later he received his GED following the war.

He was very proud of his 13 years of service as a member and vice president of the Laurel School Board and of his five children attending college.

Woody lived on the family farm where he was born and raised.

He loved watching the crops grow and especially enjoyed giving away watermelons to friends and neighbors each summer.

Woody and his wife spent 40 years operating Woodrow Phillips Spray Co.

Starting in 1950, Phillips Spray Co. disinfected poultry houses on Delmarva for all major integrators.

He raised chickens beginning in the early 1960s and was a director of the Delmarva Poultry Industry.

Woody was founding member of the Laurel Grain Co. and a lifetime board member of the MarDel Watermelon Association.

It was said of Woody that he never met a stranger.

His love of others and faith in God were the bedrock of his time here on Earth.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents, Eliza Ellen Adams Phillips and Columbus Washington Phillips; brothers, J. Marshall Phillips and Jenning B. Phillips; and sisters, May P. Williams and Hazel P. Glover.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Belle Phillips; his five children, Scott Phillips and his wife Darlene of Millsboro, Jayne Gordy and her husband Benny of Laurel, Chris Phillips of Delray Beach, Fla., Vance Phillips and his wife Lisa of Laurel, and Susan Lloyd and her husband Mike of Moore, S.C.; a sister, Jean Edwards of Laurel; 18 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday in the Centenary United Methodist Church, 200 W. Market St., Laurel, where friends may call two hours prior.

Friends may also call at the church from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

The Rev. Art Smith will officiate.

Interment will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Laurel.

Contributions can be made to Portsville United Methodist Church, c/o Robert Hudson, 32221 Horsey Church Road, Laurel, DE 19956; or Centenary United Methodist Church, 200 W. Market St., Laurel, DE 19956.

Arrangements by Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home, Laurel.