Joseph Phillips, 87, U.S. Army Veteran
Joseph Phillips, 87, was called home on Sunday, September 13, 2015 following a brief illness. His loving family was with him at his residence at his time of peaceful passing.Joseph was born on July 7, 1928 in Kulpmont, PA following the immigration of his parents from Hungary. He attended Lorain High School and then served in the US Army 509th Air Base Group from August 1946 until August 1949 as an electrician/radio mechanic. He married his beloved wife Marilyn (nee: Fradley) on April 23, 1955 raising three children together. Joseph worked at the BF Goodrich Chemical Company in Avon Lake for 41 years. He was employed as a Senior Technician in Organic Chemistry and specialized in plastic research and development. He retired from Goodrich in 1993.
He was a parishioner of St. Peter Parish in Lorain and a member of VFW and American Legion. An avid ballroom dancer - he and is wife Marilyn took lessons at Mitzi and Ed Waring's Dance Studio, North Olmsted, and became very proficient dancers. Performing for nursing home patrons and in dance marathons for Ohio Cancer Research Associates were just a couple of functions Joseph loved doing with Marilyn for a good part of his life.
He enjoyed cruises, world travel, spending time with his family and working around the house as well as helping his children with anything - just ask him and he would get it done! He was an all around handyman extraordinaire. He could fix just about anything - scratch that - he could fix anything!
Joseph is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Marilyn Phillips; loving children, Joseph B. Phillips; Brenda L. Phillips and Matthew T. (Barbara, Billy and Brandon Mitchell) Phillips; grandchildren, Nicole, Samantha, Jacob Phillips, Jonathan and Alissa Van Dress; sister, Esther Phillips; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his infant son, Albert Phillips; parents, Bert and Esther (nee: Pandy) Phillips; sisters, Julia Sparr, Mary Wright and Betty Kennedy; and brothers, Steve, Bert, John, Alex and Frank Phillips.
The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2150 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-1961 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from