Robert M. Phillips

1940 - 2017

Robert M. Phillips

St. George, Utah - Robert M. Phillips (Bob), age 76, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2017. He was born September 10, 1940, to Theodore I. Phillips and Lenore Phillips (Cicourel). He married Mary Ellen Bryan on April 19, 1986, at his home in Cypress, California.

He had a wide and varied career including:
• Military Service with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, March Air Force Base, Riverside, CA from 1962 - 1968
• Owner/President/CEO of Phillips Steel Company, Long Beach, CA from 1958 - 1992
• Owner/President CEO of Bunkyl & Associates, Long Beach, CA from 1970 - 1990
• Real Estate Sales and Property Management - California and Utah 1997 - 2017

He was born and raised in Long Beach California and went into the family owned business originally named Pacific Junk Co. His father mentored him from the ground up in every aspect of the business until retiring and turning it over for Bob to carry on. As the business grew and took on a wider range of specialization, the company was re-named to Phillips Steel Co. to include the metal service center and recycling of metal including precious metals refining and electronic scrap. He was happy to see his sons Greg and Todd follow in his footsteps with Phillips Steel Co.

He had a love for golf and good food; being a member of Old Ranch Golf and Tennis Country Club, Seal Beach CA and of Bloomington Country Club, St. George, UT. His Golf Travels took him to Scotland, England, the Hawaiian Islands, the East Coast of the United States, as well as numerous Southern California Courses and Catalina Island. At each outing, Bob and Mary enjoyed the local tourist sites from the Liberty Bell and Epcot Center to the Volcano eruption in Hawaii and restaurants of all varieties.

He was extremely patriotic and proud of his grandson Ian Ryan Neale currently serving in the U. S. Navy aboard the USS George H.W. Bush Naval Aircraft Carrier (currently on deployment).

He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen Bryan-Phillips who resides in St. George, Utah; his sons Greg Phillips, Seal Beach, CA and Todd A. Phillips, San Pedro, CA, his step-son Mark E. Bryan, Roseville, CA, and step-daughter Dana Marie Bryan, Fort Collins, CO. He is also survived by his granddaughters Emily J. Phillips, Breann M. Larson, Victoria E. Bryan, Faith C. Bryan and Grandson Ian Ryan Neale. He is also survived by his brothers Daryl Phillips, Huntington Beach, CA and Gary Phillips, Lake Forest, CA. He is preceded in death by parents Theodore I. Phillips and Lenore Phillips (Cicourel) and brother Paul Phillips.

The family will be holding a private memorial at this time, and no formal funeral services are planned at this time.

As Bob is a Veteran of the United States Air Force, the family asks that instead of flowers, donations made in Bob's honor and memory to the Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org) or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://goo.gl/6fMSD1).

Please visit www.hughesmortuary.com for complete funeral listing and to leave condolences. Please sign the guest book at www.presstelegram.com/obits.