Phillip Benjamin Russo

Phillip Benjamin Russo passed away in peace on February 24, 2023 at the age of 82. He was born on May 11, 1940 in Houston, Texas to parents, Angelo A. Russo, Sr. and Madeline Russo.
Phillip married Cherrie Lavelle Russo on June 10, 1974 in Dresden, where both were members of the Dresden United Methodist Church. Cherrie passed on February 26, 2018. They were married for almost 50 years.
Phillip is survived by his mother, Madeline E. Russo; children, Nick Russo and Angela Bowers; grandchildren: Luc Anthony Russo, Chase Bowers, Sophie Bowers, and Kirby Bowers; sisters: Carolyn Grizzaffi and Paulette Bernhagen and her husband Patrick; brother, Angelo Pete Russo and his wife Pat; his beloved dog, Beanie; as well as other family members and friends.
He was preceded into Heaven by his father, Angelo A. Russo, Sr., brother, Ronnie Russo, and sister, Mary Campise.
Phillip was a supporter of his Church Home, Corsicana Animal Shelter and the Dresden Cemetery.
Phillip was known for being a loving husband with a large heart and fighting spirit. He spent the last 10 years in Blooming Grove as caregiver for his mother- in- law, Maudie Mae Blake and for his wife, Cherrie, who had become bed ridden. He did all the cooking and cleaning. Little did we know, Phillip himself had kidney problems. He never complained.
Phillip went to Mt. Carmel for High School and Texas A&M University for a year. He got into Sales with a great career and eventually became a Journeyman in Plumbing. I remember when Hurricane Alicia was here Phillip lived with me temporary and repaired all my plumbing. Then all my neighbors. Labor free.
Phillip also enjoyed spending time outdoors while in Corsicana, Texas. He had many acres and did all the lawn work. He and Cherrie would love driving the lawnmower. He loved staying busy and working with his hands. He would never sit still. His neighbors all loved him like family.
Phillip would always make you laugh. He was a pleasure to be around. He loved to bowl, play pool and play cards. He also loved lottery scratch offs; he played weekly. He also was lucky and won a lot. My biggest memory of Phillip is that he was the most dedicated Dallas Cowboy fan. He watched every game on TV that he could. When Phillip passed, he had on his Dallas Cowboy cap.
After Cherrie passed, Phillip moved to Houston and lived in an apartment at Brookdale. He had a lot of friends at Brookdale. When we would visit most of the women would tell us "I want to marry him". He was voted King for Valentine's Day. Friends that moved from Brookdale kept in touch. The workers at Brookdale kept him company and every week they would hold a meeting and have donuts. They always invited Phillip knowing how much he loved donuts. He always took a personal interest.
Phillip will be missed by all his family and friends. In the last 5 years with him living in Houston we became very close. Sometimes Patrick would go with Phillip to play bingo and go to Happy Hour at Brookdale. Phillip loved going places, especially with his family.
We never heard him complain, cuss or be anything but be a delight. He was always cheerful. Whenever we would help him, he would look straight into your eyes and always say thank you. We would say no need for thanks and he would say thank you again. Brookdale where he lived the last 5 years plus always told me how Phillip would joke around and make everyone smile/laugh. He kept pictures of his family on the windowsill, on the walls and in frames. He was always looking at his pictures on his Alexa.
Phillip had a big heart and will be added to our list of Angels. May our Bro, Phillip rest in peace.
Thank you to all the Doctors and Nurses for all your help. Thank you, Family and Friends, for your prayers. We love all of you and appreciate your prayers and you thinking of us.
Don't think of him as gone away, His journeys just begun. Just think of him as living in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research. Donate by phone at 800 822-6344 or mail to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Services will be for the immediate family. Phillip will be laid to rest at Dresden Cemetery, Blooming Grove, Texas 76626 beside his wife, Cherrie.