Bennie B Phillips

Bennie B. Phillips, of Groesbeck, passed away at age 78, on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Groesbeck LTC, where he had resided during the past two years due to health problems.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 24, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2024, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Dennis Wilson officiating.    Burial will follow in Kirk Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Nick Phillips, Jacob Phillips, Mike Ferguson, Garrett Cate, Bradley Truett, and Ethan Fortson.   The honorary pallbearers will be the afternoon Coffee Club Bunch.

Bennie was born November 28, 1945, in Mexia, to Jack Phillips and Edna Barker Dunlap.  He grew up in Box Church and then attended high school in LaVega.

Bennie enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 16 years old and served two years at the California Naval Base.    He came back to Limestone County, and began driving a truck, which he did for the next twenty years.   In the past, he had a used car lot, “Just-a-Ride” on Hwy. 14, Groesbeck and he operated Bennie’s Wrecker.   He continued the wrecker business until retiring in 1999.

Bennie met Jean Harris (Breland) and they were married in 1986 in Groesbeck, where they made their home. 

Bennie loved fishing at Lake Limestone (and having his son clean his catch.) He tried to never miss meeting up with the coffee bunch, whether at Dairy Queen in past years, or Mary’s Burger Barn, or the LMC hospital, or Mia Rancho.   After he retired, he was co-manager of Ken Lee’s Trailer Park where he did the bookkeeping.  Bennie loved his grandchildren and going to their football and baseball games.     He attended First Baptist Church of Groesbeck. 

Bennie was preceded in death by his father, Jack Phillips; his mother, Edna Dunlap; his son, Matthew James Phillips; and a sister, Joyce Peraza.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Beverly “Jean” Phillips of Groesbeck; son and daughter-in-law, Jackie Wayne and Kim Phillips of Gardendale, TX; son and daughter-in-law, David and Tina Phillips of Mt. Vernon, KY; daughter, Melissa Phillips of Paragould, AR; step-daughter, Kelley Cate of Groesbeck; step-daughter, Terri Harris and Tracy Pinkerton of Palestine; step-son, Mike Harris and Dianne Shults of Lufkin; 13 grandchildren; and 6 great grandchildren; sisters, Yvonne Fortson of Mexia and Bettye Martin and husband Truman of Rice; and brother, Duane Beard of Kirven.

The family wishes to thank all the staff at Groesbeck LTC and Accent Hospice for their outstanding care of Bennie.