Frank Phillips

NEOGA -- Frank Henry Phillips, 88, of rural Neoga, Illinois, went to sleep peacefully in Jesus, at 2:35 p.m., Monday, March 6, 2006, in his residence. Frank was born January 20, 1918, in Sheridan, Oregon, the son of Frank H. and Olive Pearl (Gibson) Phillips. He married Leota F. Jones, October 29, 1938, in Broadview, Illinois, and Leota passed away March 23, 1971, in Wildwood, Georgia, and he later married Muriel A. (Franklin) Wellbaum on May 28, 1972, in Brookfield, Illinois and Muriel passed away May 29, 2004, in Urbana, Illinois. Mr. Phillips was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Stewardson, Illinois. Frank was a book salesman for the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Indiana and Illinois. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He also worked as the Illinois State representative for the Christian Record Braille Foundation. After his retirement Frank and Muriel read electric meters for Coles-Moultrie Cooperative in Cumberland County for nearly twenty years. Mr. Phillips leaves two sons, Ray Duane Phillips of Springfield, Oregon, and Floyd Leon Phillips and wife Tania of rural Neoga, Illinois; three daughters, Esther June Lucas and husband Everett of Niles, Michigan, Frances Jo Mehner and husband Karl of Sandia Park, New Mexico, and Olive Mae Dibble and husband Duane of Culpeper, Virginia; one sister, Paulina Phillips of New Brunswick, Georgia; thirteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Leota; second wife, Muriel; one son, Paul Dean Phillips; and one brother, Delbert Ray Phillips. Memorials may be made to the family in care of the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, P.O. Box 339, Neoga, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2006, in the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Stewardson, Illinois, with Pastor Joe Arner of Xenia, Illinois, officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, March 13, 2006, in the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home of Neoga, Illinois. Burial will be in the Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon, Illinois. Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home of Neoga, is in charge of arrangements. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.jg-tc.com and click on obituaries.