SMYRNA - William M. Phillips passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2018.
Born in Odessa on Sept. 8, 1932 to the late William G. Phillips and Grace N. Morris. He attended Middletown High School and H. Fletcher Brown High School in Wilmington.
Bill served with the U.S. Army Quartermaster for two years testing footwear and clothing in Yuma, Arizona and Ft. Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Delaware Surf Fisherman Association 30 years, a former member of the U.S. Trotting Association for 15 years, former president of the Blackbird Micro Midget Race Club, and was a life member and past treasurer of the Odessa Fire Company.
Bill retired from Johnson Controls in Middletown, after 36 years of service. During his employment he served as the first president of Local 1516 U.A.W.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Phillips; his brother, John R. Phillips; and sister, Dorothy Phillips; and son-in-law, James "Jamie" Turner, III.
He is survived by his daughters, Deborah Turner of Smyrna, and Terry Samonte (Tony) of Smyrna; granddaughters, Kim Willson (Mike) of Magnolia, Katelyn Olson (Sean) of Virginia Beach, Va., Toni Lynn Hendricks (Brian) of Dover, Dina Pennington (Tim) of Clayton; great-grandchildren, Myah, Keegan, Madelyn, Harper, Kolton, and Rhett; as well as his faithful feline, Dusty.
Services will be held on Monday, June 25, 2018 at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m., service will begin at 2 p.m. Interment is private.