DOVER - William O. Phillips Jr., 91, died of natural causes in his home in Dover, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. He was born March 9, 1920, in Akron, Ohio, and resided in Charleston, West Virginia until 1941 when he entered military service. In 1950 he completed his undergraduate studies at West Virginia University with a Bachelors of Science. In 1951 he obtained a Masters in Science Education. He was inducted into the international honorary society in Education, Kappa Delta Pi, the Arnold Air Society and was a Distinguished Graduate of AF ROTC. He re-entered military service and retired as a Captain from the United States Air Force in 1966. He then served the state of Delaware as a junior and high school Biology teacher at Felton and Lake Forest high schools. In 1972 he pursued and obtained a second Masters degree in Teaching Biology from Texas Southern University. He also taught for the Kent County Vocational School District as a Science/Health teacher at Groves Adult High School for thirteen years. Due to health reasons he left teaching but continued in state service as a Health Educator. Upon retirement from the State, Mr. Phillips dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his many political interests, his favorite charities and vegetable gardening. He was preceded in death by his parents, William O. Phillips and America Alice Blanche Eagle; his twin sister, Willa Angela Denison; and younger sisters Mary Jaraldine Fletcher and Mildred Phillips; and by his nephew, William David Belsches. He is survived by his Nicaraguan born wife of 64 years, Norma Argentina de la Rocha; his daughter, Maria Elizabeth Phillips; his son, William Orville Phillips III; his daughter-in-law, Alicia Grodsky; and his granddaughters, Amaya and Ariana Phillips. Friends may call Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State Street, Dover. A funeral Mass will follow. Interment will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of which he was a loyal supporter for 20 years. Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.