Roger L. Phillips

ROGER L. PHILLIPS, 90, of Portsmouth, transitioned from his earthly life to his heavenly life on October 19, 2025.
Roger was born on May 6,1935 to Delmas and Loretta Tolliver Phillips who predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his sister Margaret Phillips Schumacher and her husband, Dr. Gunter Schumacher.
Roger was very proud of his service in the United States Army and spent most of his military life in Hawaii preparing for jungle warfare in Laos. Following his active duty, he returned to Ohio and worked at the Atomic Energy Plant and the Steel Mill. He worked in several parts of the mill and eventually worked in the Payroll Department until the mill closed in 1981.
Surviving Roger are his beloved daughters Amanda Leeann Phillips of Portsmouth, Emily Joyce Phillips of Miami, Florida and his beloved son, Dr. Roger Matthew Phillips, (Matt) and his wife Cynthia of Portsmouth. Roger was the proud Papaw of his beautiful granddaughter, Mia Elyse Phillips, the daughter of Matt and Cynthia. Also surviving are his dear brother and sister-in-law Larry Dale Phillips and wife Ann of Yakima, Washington. Nieces and nephews who survive him include Stefanie Schumacher of Austin, Texas, Steven Schumacher of Los Angeles, California, Lynn Gray and husband Russell of Placerville, California and Eric Phillips of Yakima, Washington. His ex-wife and best friend, Hetty Phillips, also survives. Roger was a kind, humble, honest gentleman who will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Before his health declined, Roger was an active member of Cornerstone Church of Portsmouth where he worked as an usher, bus driver, and helped with the Loaves and Fishes program and served in the church booth at the county fair. Roger gave blood every time he was eligible to the American Red Cross Blood Drive. He was also a member of the Portsmouth Elks Club and Portsmouth Jaycees.
Roger's family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, aides, and therapists at Southern Ohio Medical Center for the care they gave Roger. Staff members who treated him at home were also outstanding with their compassionate care. For the last five months of his life, Roger was bedfast and an out- patient, in- home, SOMC hospice patient. Staff members who assisted at times in the home were outstanding with their kind, dedicated, thoughtful care. The family will forever be grateful to these excellent health care workers.
Special thanks go to Fox Hunt, who assisted Hetty and Amanda with Roger's care as his health first started to decline. When Roger became bedfast, more help was needed. Roger was blessed to have an outstanding nurse, Leah Helphinstine, to come twice a day to assist with his care. With a beautiful smile on her face, Leah did everything possible to make him comfortable as she provided the care he needed. His two aides, Peyton Helphinstine and Kylie Johnson provided excellent care and were helpful in so many ways. Fox, Leah, Peyton and Kylie were indeed ANGELS for Roger.
A Celebration of Roger's life will be held at Cornerstone Church of Portsmouth, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the service to follow. Pastor Perry Prosch will officiate with Pastor Tom Charles assisting. The family invites family and friends to join them for dinner in the social room on the second floor at Odd Fellows Restaurant, 526 Second Street, Portsmouth, after the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts in Roger's memory be given to Cornerstone Church or the American Red Cross Blood Drive.