Donald H. Phillips

Donald H. Phillips of Bristol, Tenn., went to be with the Lord on May 23, 2004.
He was born in Independence, Mo., in 1925 to Granville J. and Marie Phillips.
After a tour of duty with the Navy during World War II serving aboard the Aircraft Carrier "Bunker Hill" which was bombed and sunk by Kamakazi fighters, Don was cited by the Navy for saving 10 men aboard the carrier. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated in 1951 with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management. He later furthered his education by earning a Master's Degree in Government Contract Acquisition Management for the Florida Institute of Management.
He had been heavily involved with the Boy Scouts and two of his sons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He had been the Past President of SAC-FOX Indian POW-WOW Council and had worked for many years with the Bix Biederbecke Dixie Land Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa, before moving to Bristol.
In 1995, Don received his Master Gardener certification from the Tennessee Agricultural Department, celebrating a life-long love of gardening.
Don worked in the private sector from 1951-1963 serving the Construction and Aerospace-Missile Industries as Contract Manager and plant manager, ranging from Walter Kidde, N.J.; Wright Aeronautical,N.J.; McDonnell Aircraft, St. Louis, Mo.; and Raytheon, Bristol. In 1963, he joined the U.S. Army Weapons Command at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Ill., as Procurement Specialist. During his years with the Command, he dealt in the major item weapon procurement field, such as aircraft weapons, self-propelled artillery, Mortars and Rocoiless rifles. In 1984, he became Chief of Procurement for the Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and retiring in 1992.
He received his lifetime certificate as "Professional Contract Manager" from the National Contract Manager Association and was a registered Certified Professional Contract Manager. He was also a life member of the National Rifle Association and was for many years a well known collector of Civil War Memorabilia. He was a charter member of the Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society.
He was a member of King Lodge No. 0461 Bristol; Scottish Rites Bodies, Valley of Moline, Ill.; former member of the Shrine Temple of Medinah, Chicago, transferred to Jerricho Temple, A.A.O.M.S. of Kingsport and the Order of the Eastern Star, Border City, Chapter No. 162 Bristol; and former member of Bristol Kiwanis Club. He was an active member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees and a member of the VFW in Moline. Mr. Phillips was a member of the First Congregational Church of Moline and attended the Central Presbyterian Church of Bristol.
He leaves his widow, Sallie; three sons, Raymond (dec), Richard and Mark; three stepchildren, John Gardner, of Bristol, Michelle M. Dickens, of Portland, Tenn., and Linda Hanson, of Naples, Fla.; one grandson, Sidney Hanson, and one step-granddaughter, Stacy Dickens; and two half brothers, G.J. Phillips and John Phillips, of Kansas City, Mo.
The will be no visitation at the funeral home. The body will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be sent to PUFA (People United for Animals), P.O. Box 1882, Bristol, TN 37621-1821 or Healing Hands, 210 Memorial Dr., Bristol, TN 37620.
Email condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net.
Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, Tenn., (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Donald Phillips.