Henry "HF" Phillips, 73, returned to his heavenly home on February 16, 2021 after a valiant battle with cancer. His unfailing devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.
HF was born to the late Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips, a U.S. Postmaster and a homemaker respectively, in Hot Springs, VA on September 23, 1947. He graduated from Valley High School where he was a stellar athlete in football, basketball and baseball. Although life eventually brought him south, he exemplified great pride and respect for all things ‘Phillips’ and all things ‘Virginia’. He loved telling anyone and everyone about his hometown and his family, past and present.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 18 where he served for 15 years as an Aircraft Armament Systems Technician on active duty and reserve. While serving his country, he was directly responsible for designing, testing and installing better and more efficient Aircraft Armament Systems during the Vietnam War era, some of which are still being used today. He left the service as a highly decorated and even higher respected Tech Sergeant. He was able to spend a lot of the last couple of months bonding with his fellow servicemen and women, many of whom he never met or even served with, but this did not stop him from seeing them as his brother or sister. He will be truly missed by his fellow veterans because they know that they truly stand on the shoulders of giants. And that’s what HF was, a giant.
HF was blessed with a loving and caring family. He married the love of his life, his late wife, Linda Diane Walding, on June 15, 1979 and resided in Alexandria, LA where he and Diane raised 3 children. He worked for Diane’s family business selling fruit, fireworks and crawfish at Walding’s Curb Market on the north traffic circle. He learned the trade of making dentures from his stepfather- in- law and worked for
several area dentists while working for the Alexandria Police Department where he would later retire: the first time. He spent his retirement working part time for the Transportation Security Administration where he was awarded employee of the month, month after month. He left TSA to work full time at Affordable Dentures as the Lab Manager, where he would later retire for the last and final time. His work ethic and continued dedication for helping others was incomparable.
HF was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. He was known for his infectious laughter and never meeting a stranger. He would give them the shirt off his back. Interestingly enough, he went shirtless quite often in his younger years accompanied by the infamous “t-towel”. He was a jack of all trades who loved to cook and entertain and could energize any room he walked in. Some of the many nicknames include, Big Boy, Flip, Philly, H, Pops, PawPaw, Vern, Petey and Fudgy. His loved ones will remember him as mentor, coach, friend, goofball, encourager, mountain man, romantic, sportsman, storyteller, faithful, selfless servant, always genuine and true man of God. He will be dearly missed by all, but we celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator and dancing with Diane.
HF is survived by his 3 children; Kathryn Grunzinger (Angel), her husband Adam, their 2 sons, Soren and Mason Grunzinger; Kourtny Bratton (Magoo), her husband Edmond, their 3 kids, Alaya, Kaeleigh and Khai Bratton; William (Bucko), his wife Charity, their 4 kids, Thomas, Cooper, Sullivan and Clellie Joy Phillips; 3 brothers, Keswick (Rattail), Rocklyn (Rocky) and Gene (Bugs) Phillips; an abundant host of extended family, friends that have become family and a loyal church family. He is preceded in death by his parents; Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips; and his wife, Linda Diane.
Services for Mr. Henry “HF” Phillips will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. B. David Brooks and Associate Pastor, Todd Strain officiating. Burial will be at Hemphill Star Cemetery, under the direction of Hixson Brothers in Alexandria.
The family requests visitation be held Friday at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church from Noon until service time.
A warm and heartfelt thank you goes out to Clarice and JoAnn and all the staff at Heart of Hospice, Hematology Oncology of Alexandria, Dr. David Guillot and MD Anderson Cancer Center for the unconditional care provided.
HF was born to the late Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips, a U.S. Postmaster and a homemaker respectively, in Hot Springs, VA on September 23, 1947. He graduated from Valley High School where he was a stellar athlete in football, basketball and baseball. Although life eventually brought him south, he exemplified great pride and respect for all things ‘Phillips’ and all things ‘Virginia’. He loved telling anyone and everyone about his hometown and his family, past and present.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 18 where he served for 15 years as an Aircraft Armament Systems Technician on active duty and reserve. While serving his country, he was directly responsible for designing, testing and installing better and more efficient Aircraft Armament Systems during the Vietnam War era, some of which are still being used today. He left the service as a highly decorated and even higher respected Tech Sergeant. He was able to spend a lot of the last couple of months bonding with his fellow servicemen and women, many of whom he never met or even served with, but this did not stop him from seeing them as his brother or sister. He will be truly missed by his fellow veterans because they know that they truly stand on the shoulders of giants. And that’s what HF was, a giant.
HF was blessed with a loving and caring family. He married the love of his life, his late wife, Linda Diane Walding, on June 15, 1979 and resided in Alexandria, LA where he and Diane raised 3 children. He worked for Diane’s family business selling fruit, fireworks and crawfish at Walding’s Curb Market on the north traffic circle. He learned the trade of making dentures from his stepfather- in- law and worked for
several area dentists while working for the Alexandria Police Department where he would later retire: the first time. He spent his retirement working part time for the Transportation Security Administration where he was awarded employee of the month, month after month. He left TSA to work full time at Affordable Dentures as the Lab Manager, where he would later retire for the last and final time. His work ethic and continued dedication for helping others was incomparable.
HF was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. He was known for his infectious laughter and never meeting a stranger. He would give them the shirt off his back. Interestingly enough, he went shirtless quite often in his younger years accompanied by the infamous “t-towel”. He was a jack of all trades who loved to cook and entertain and could energize any room he walked in. Some of the many nicknames include, Big Boy, Flip, Philly, H, Pops, PawPaw, Vern, Petey and Fudgy. His loved ones will remember him as mentor, coach, friend, goofball, encourager, mountain man, romantic, sportsman, storyteller, faithful, selfless servant, always genuine and true man of God. He will be dearly missed by all, but we celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator and dancing with Diane.
HF is survived by his 3 children; Kathryn Grunzinger (Angel), her husband Adam, their 2 sons, Soren and Mason Grunzinger; Kourtny Bratton (Magoo), her husband Edmond, their 3 kids, Alaya, Kaeleigh and Khai Bratton; William (Bucko), his wife Charity, their 4 kids, Thomas, Cooper, Sullivan and Clellie Joy Phillips; 3 brothers, Keswick (Rattail), Rocklyn (Rocky) and Gene (Bugs) Phillips; an abundant host of extended family, friends that have become family and a loyal church family. He is preceded in death by his parents; Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips; and his wife, Linda Diane.
Services for Mr. Henry “HF” Phillips will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. B. David Brooks and Associate Pastor, Todd Strain officiating. Burial will be at Hemphill Star Cemetery, under the direction of Hixson Brothers in Alexandria.
The family requests visitation be held Friday at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church from Noon until service time.
A warm and heartfelt thank you goes out to Clarice and JoAnn and all the staff at Heart of Hospice, Hematology Oncology of Alexandria, Dr. David Guillot and MD Anderson Cancer Center for the unconditional care provided.
Henry "HF" Phillips, 73, returned to his heavenly home on February 16, 2021 after a valiant battle with cancer. His unfailing devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.
HF was born to the late Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips, a U.S. Postmaster and a homemaker respectively, in Hot Springs, VA on September 23, 1947. He graduated from Valley High School where he was a stellar athlete in football, basketball and baseball. Although life eventually brought him south, he exemplified great pride and respect for all things ‘Phillips’ and all things ‘Virginia’. He loved telling anyone and everyone about his hometown and his family, past and present.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 18 where he served for 15 years as an Aircraft Armament Systems Technician on active duty and reserve. While serving his country, he was directly responsible for designing, testing and installing better and more efficient Aircraft Armament Systems during the Vietnam War era, some of which are still being used today. He left the service as a highly decorated and even higher respected Tech Sergeant. He was able to spend a lot of the last couple of months bonding with his fellow servicemen and women, many of whom he never met or even served with, but this did not stop him from seeing them as his brother or sister. He will be truly missed by his fellow veterans because they know that they truly stand on the shoulders of giants. And that’s what HF was, a giant.
HF was blessed with a loving and caring family. He married the love of his life, his late wife, Linda Diane Walding, on June 15, 1979 and resided in Alexandria, LA where he and Diane raised 3 children. He worked for Diane’s family business selling fruit, fireworks and crawfish at Walding’s Curb Market on the north traffic circle. He learned the trade of making dentures from his stepfather- in- law and worked for
several area dentists while working for the Alexandria Police Department where he would later retire: the first time. He spent his retirement working part time for the Transportation Security Administration where he was awarded employee of the month, month after month. He left TSA to work full time at Affordable Dentures as the Lab Manager, where he would later retire for the last and final time. His work ethic and continued dedication for helping others was incomparable.
HF was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. He was known for his infectious laughter and never meeting a stranger. He would give them the shirt off his back. Interestingly enough, he went shirtless quite often in his younger years accompanied by the infamous “t-towel”. He was a jack of all trades who loved to cook and entertain and could energize any room he walked in. Some of the many nicknames include, Big Boy, Flip, Philly, H, Pops, PawPaw, Vern, Petey and Fudgy. His loved ones will remember him as mentor, coach, friend, goofball, encourager, mountain man, romantic, sportsman, storyteller, faithful, selfless servant, always genuine and true man of God. He will be dearly missed by all, but we celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator and dancing with Diane.
HF is survived by his 3 children; Kathryn Grunzinger (Angel), her husband Adam, their 2 sons, Soren and Mason Grunzinger; Kourtny Bratton (Magoo), her husband Edmond, their 3 kids, Alaya, Kaeleigh and Khai Bratton; William (Bucko), his wife Charity, their 4 kids, Thomas, Cooper, Sullivan and Clellie Joy Phillips; 3 brothers, Keswick (Rattail), Rocklyn (Rocky) and Gene (Bugs) Phillips; an abundant host of extended family, friends that have become family and a loyal church family. He is preceded in death by his parents; Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips; and his wife, Linda Diane.
Services for Mr. Henry “HF” Phillips will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. B. David Brooks and Associate Pastor, Todd Strain officiating. Burial will be at Hemphill Star Cemetery, under the direction of Hixson Brothers in Alexandria.
The family requests visitation be held Friday at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church from Noon until service time.
A warm and heartfelt thank you goes out to Clarice and JoAnn and all the staff at Heart of Hospice, Hematology Oncology of Alexandria, Dr. David Guillot and MD Anderson Cancer Center for the unconditional care provided.
HF was born to the late Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips, a U.S. Postmaster and a homemaker respectively, in Hot Springs, VA on September 23, 1947. He graduated from Valley High School where he was a stellar athlete in football, basketball and baseball. Although life eventually brought him south, he exemplified great pride and respect for all things ‘Phillips’ and all things ‘Virginia’. He loved telling anyone and everyone about his hometown and his family, past and present.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 18 where he served for 15 years as an Aircraft Armament Systems Technician on active duty and reserve. While serving his country, he was directly responsible for designing, testing and installing better and more efficient Aircraft Armament Systems during the Vietnam War era, some of which are still being used today. He left the service as a highly decorated and even higher respected Tech Sergeant. He was able to spend a lot of the last couple of months bonding with his fellow servicemen and women, many of whom he never met or even served with, but this did not stop him from seeing them as his brother or sister. He will be truly missed by his fellow veterans because they know that they truly stand on the shoulders of giants. And that’s what HF was, a giant.
HF was blessed with a loving and caring family. He married the love of his life, his late wife, Linda Diane Walding, on June 15, 1979 and resided in Alexandria, LA where he and Diane raised 3 children. He worked for Diane’s family business selling fruit, fireworks and crawfish at Walding’s Curb Market on the north traffic circle. He learned the trade of making dentures from his stepfather- in- law and worked for
several area dentists while working for the Alexandria Police Department where he would later retire: the first time. He spent his retirement working part time for the Transportation Security Administration where he was awarded employee of the month, month after month. He left TSA to work full time at Affordable Dentures as the Lab Manager, where he would later retire for the last and final time. His work ethic and continued dedication for helping others was incomparable.
HF was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. He was known for his infectious laughter and never meeting a stranger. He would give them the shirt off his back. Interestingly enough, he went shirtless quite often in his younger years accompanied by the infamous “t-towel”. He was a jack of all trades who loved to cook and entertain and could energize any room he walked in. Some of the many nicknames include, Big Boy, Flip, Philly, H, Pops, PawPaw, Vern, Petey and Fudgy. His loved ones will remember him as mentor, coach, friend, goofball, encourager, mountain man, romantic, sportsman, storyteller, faithful, selfless servant, always genuine and true man of God. He will be dearly missed by all, but we celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator and dancing with Diane.
HF is survived by his 3 children; Kathryn Grunzinger (Angel), her husband Adam, their 2 sons, Soren and Mason Grunzinger; Kourtny Bratton (Magoo), her husband Edmond, their 3 kids, Alaya, Kaeleigh and Khai Bratton; William (Bucko), his wife Charity, their 4 kids, Thomas, Cooper, Sullivan and Clellie Joy Phillips; 3 brothers, Keswick (Rattail), Rocklyn (Rocky) and Gene (Bugs) Phillips; an abundant host of extended family, friends that have become family and a loyal church family. He is preceded in death by his parents; Henry Forrest and Sarah Earnestine Phillips; and his wife, Linda Diane.
Services for Mr. Henry “HF” Phillips will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. B. David Brooks and Associate Pastor, Todd Strain officiating. Burial will be at Hemphill Star Cemetery, under the direction of Hixson Brothers in Alexandria.
The family requests visitation be held Friday at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church from Noon until service time.
A warm and heartfelt thank you goes out to Clarice and JoAnn and all the staff at Heart of Hospice, Hematology Oncology of Alexandria, Dr. David Guillot and MD Anderson Cancer Center for the unconditional care provided.
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