Robert W. Phillips

1942 - 2024

Robert William Phillips, 82, of Hurlock, Maryland, passed away July 3, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born February 8, 1942, in Easton, Maryland, to Bernice E. Phillips and William Steele Phillips. Bob graduated from North Dorchester High School in 1960, then attended Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, where he graduated in 1962. Bob served our country in the Army from 1962 to 1965 in Berlin, Germany at a U.S. military hospital during the Vietnam War.

Bob came home after his discharge from the Army and worked for Jostens American Yearbook Company, which shared facilities with Western Printing in Cambridge, Maryland, from 1965 to 1971. In 1971 he took a job transfer to their plant in Visalia, California. While working there he met and fell in love with Gerry (Reynolds) Pedersen, and they were married in Visalia in 1972. Bob served as Production Control Manager at Jostens until 1981. During his tenure there, he helped with the coordination of numerous company events and played on the company's softball team. He and his wife Gerry often socialized with friends from work, played tennis and golf, and took vacations together in Lake Almanor in Northern California. In 1981, he departed Jostens to return to his roots, and he and his family made the cross-country trek to live near his childhood home outside of Hurlock.

After his return to the Eastern Shore, Bob held several management positions prior to purchasing a Pepperidge Farm bread franchise in 1989. He operated his bread route for ten years until 1999 at which point he sold the business and began working for Right Turn Management until he retired in 2009. During retirement he kept busy in his yard and at B&B Sport Aviation where he helped out part-time for several years. Bob and his wife Gerry were married for 52 years during which they enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. Aside from being a loving husband and a great father, his one amazing gift was his ability to be a great friend. His wife describes him as her best friend.

Surviving Bob is his wife Gerry; his daughter Robin Ellis; his son Michael Phillips; his step-daughter Lisa (Paul) Beckberger; nieces Brinton (Bradley) Hollis, Rene (Patrick) Adkins, Ruthanna (John) Lucas; his nephew Ralph Whitten and his dog Bella. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a baby brother John E. Phillips, his brother David E. Phillips and sister-in-law Patricia, and his sister- and brother-in-law Kathy and Charles Powell.

Bob will be laid to rest in a private interment service at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception for family and friends at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the East New Market Fire Hall, 4020 East New Market Bypass, East New Market, MD 21631.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in memory of Bob to the following charities: Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org or Coastal Hospice at coastalhospice.org. Online condolences may be made at We Remember/Zeller Funeral Home.com

Arrangements are in care of Zeller Funeral Home in East New Market.