LONG NECK, Del. - Russell Barry Phillips died suddenly Friday, April 5, 2013 at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford. Born on June 8, 1950 in Milford, he is the son of Thelma Whaley and the late Rev. Roy B. Phillips. Russell grew up on the eastern shore primarily on Kent Island. He was a graduate of Queen Anne's County High School class of 1968. He then attended Wesley College in Dover. After college, Russell was hired as a ghost writer with the Republican National Committee with fundraising in Washington, D.C. After 2 years of service he would begin a career in sales most notably with Shawnee Homes as regional sales director and most recently as an independent contractor with Legal Shield. He was a devoted family man who was a gifted pianist who enjoyed fishing and watching sports. He was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church where he was a lay speaker and a keyboardist with the Precious Memories Gospel Band. In addition to many extended family and friends, he is survived by his wife, Barbara Redden Phillips, of Long Neck, Del.; his mother, Thelma W. Phillips of Chester, Md.; daughter, Melanie Steed and her husband Robbie, of Texas; son, Bryan Webb and his wife Cassandra of N.C.; brother, Jeffery C. Phillips and his wife Teri, of Cambridge, Md.; two grandchildren, Alexa and Blake Steed; two nieces, Rachel and Jessica Phillips; nephew, Joseph Phillips; three great-nieces and nephews, Bradley, Taylor and Brandon. He was predeceased by his brother, Byron Keith Phillips; and nephew, Bryon Keith Phillips, Jr. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at the Kent Island United Methodist Church in Chester, Md., where family and friends may visit on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Kent Island United Methodist Church P.O. Box 308, Chester, MD 21619 or Conley's United Methodist Church, 33106 Jolyns Way Lewes, DE 19958. For online condolences see www.fhnfunralhome.com.