Burial 4/8/2022.
Wyman Cremation & Burial Chapel.
Leslie William Phillips passed peacefully from this earth on October 12, 2021 in Arizona at the age of 99.
Les was born on April 24, 1922 in Towner, Colorado to Francis and Mary Phillips, and welcomed by his older sister, Frances. Mary Phillips died when Les was in middle school.
Les was raised on a farm in eastern Kansas near the town of Lane and learned the value of hard work at a young age. He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he became proficient in math. He graduated from high school in 1940.
During World War II Les went to work in Kansas City, Kansas building B-25 bombers. He soon enlisted in the Navy flight program where he learned to fly, starting out in a Stearman biplane. He entered the Marine Corps, where he learned to fly an SNJ aircraft and eventually a Corsair. Toward the end of the war, he flew F6F Hellcats off of a Jeep carrier. After the war ended, his squadron was sent to the South Pacific to evacuate Prisoners of War to the United States. He accepted a reserve commission in 1946 and was released.
Les married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia, in 1946 and moved to Colorado. He graduated from Colorado State and began working on his Master's degree. He taught mathematics and industrial arts, and worked as a coach at Walden High School. In 1950 Les's reserve squadron was activated for the Korean War. He departed for Korea, leaving behind his pregnant wife. Les flew day and night missions in Korea in an F7F Tigercat before returning to the United States to his wife and son, Mark.
Les finished his Master's degree and taught mathematics and industrial arts at LaSalle K-9 in Colorado before being offered a teaching position in La Mesa, California. He taught shop classes at Spring Valley Junior High School in California, where he and Virginia welcomed their daughter, Debra. His part-time work at Spring Valley Lumber Company became full-time until the lumberyard was forced to relocate. He returned to teaching mathematics at Parkway Junior High School. Les taught architectural drafting at Grossmont Community College and became Dean of Sciences in 1976 and Dean of Physical Education Athletics department before retiring. After retiring from Grossmont Community College Les worked as a contractor in the San Diego area until 1989. He and Virginia moved to Medford, Oregon where he continued working as a contractor before retiring to Arizona.
Leslie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Virginia Phillips, and by his son, Mark (Jacqueline) Phillips, and his daughter, Debra (Steven) Rowley, and by his grandchildren: Genny (Cameron Day) Rowley, Lesley (Scott) Slaughter, Ian Phillips and step-granddaughter, Jennifer Teague. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Simon Slaughter, Raleigh Slaughter, and Claire Day-Rowley. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnephews, grandnieces, and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mary Phillips; his sister, Frances; and great-grandson, Samuel Day-Rowley.
Les will be remembered as a hard-working man who loved his family unconditionally. He had a strong faith in God and led a moral life, doing his best to be compassionate and honest. He made friends in every neighborhood in which he lived and was always available to help anyone.
"I hope that future generations of my family will be compassionate, show concern for others and their welfare, not to be vindictive, and use their education for the betterment of all." (Leslie Phillips, November 4, 2004)
Wyman Cremation & Burial Chapel.
Leslie William Phillips passed peacefully from this earth on October 12, 2021 in Arizona at the age of 99.
Les was born on April 24, 1922 in Towner, Colorado to Francis and Mary Phillips, and welcomed by his older sister, Frances. Mary Phillips died when Les was in middle school.
Les was raised on a farm in eastern Kansas near the town of Lane and learned the value of hard work at a young age. He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he became proficient in math. He graduated from high school in 1940.
During World War II Les went to work in Kansas City, Kansas building B-25 bombers. He soon enlisted in the Navy flight program where he learned to fly, starting out in a Stearman biplane. He entered the Marine Corps, where he learned to fly an SNJ aircraft and eventually a Corsair. Toward the end of the war, he flew F6F Hellcats off of a Jeep carrier. After the war ended, his squadron was sent to the South Pacific to evacuate Prisoners of War to the United States. He accepted a reserve commission in 1946 and was released.
Les married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia, in 1946 and moved to Colorado. He graduated from Colorado State and began working on his Master's degree. He taught mathematics and industrial arts, and worked as a coach at Walden High School. In 1950 Les's reserve squadron was activated for the Korean War. He departed for Korea, leaving behind his pregnant wife. Les flew day and night missions in Korea in an F7F Tigercat before returning to the United States to his wife and son, Mark.
Les finished his Master's degree and taught mathematics and industrial arts at LaSalle K-9 in Colorado before being offered a teaching position in La Mesa, California. He taught shop classes at Spring Valley Junior High School in California, where he and Virginia welcomed their daughter, Debra. His part-time work at Spring Valley Lumber Company became full-time until the lumberyard was forced to relocate. He returned to teaching mathematics at Parkway Junior High School. Les taught architectural drafting at Grossmont Community College and became Dean of Sciences in 1976 and Dean of Physical Education Athletics department before retiring. After retiring from Grossmont Community College Les worked as a contractor in the San Diego area until 1989. He and Virginia moved to Medford, Oregon where he continued working as a contractor before retiring to Arizona.
Leslie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Virginia Phillips, and by his son, Mark (Jacqueline) Phillips, and his daughter, Debra (Steven) Rowley, and by his grandchildren: Genny (Cameron Day) Rowley, Lesley (Scott) Slaughter, Ian Phillips and step-granddaughter, Jennifer Teague. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Simon Slaughter, Raleigh Slaughter, and Claire Day-Rowley. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnephews, grandnieces, and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mary Phillips; his sister, Frances; and great-grandson, Samuel Day-Rowley.
Les will be remembered as a hard-working man who loved his family unconditionally. He had a strong faith in God and led a moral life, doing his best to be compassionate and honest. He made friends in every neighborhood in which he lived and was always available to help anyone.
"I hope that future generations of my family will be compassionate, show concern for others and their welfare, not to be vindictive, and use their education for the betterment of all." (Leslie Phillips, November 4, 2004)
Burial 4/8/2022.
Wyman Cremation & Burial Chapel.
Leslie William Phillips passed peacefully from this earth on October 12, 2021 in Arizona at the age of 99.
Les was born on April 24, 1922 in Towner, Colorado to Francis and Mary Phillips, and welcomed by his older sister, Frances. Mary Phillips died when Les was in middle school.
Les was raised on a farm in eastern Kansas near the town of Lane and learned the value of hard work at a young age. He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he became proficient in math. He graduated from high school in 1940.
During World War II Les went to work in Kansas City, Kansas building B-25 bombers. He soon enlisted in the Navy flight program where he learned to fly, starting out in a Stearman biplane. He entered the Marine Corps, where he learned to fly an SNJ aircraft and eventually a Corsair. Toward the end of the war, he flew F6F Hellcats off of a Jeep carrier. After the war ended, his squadron was sent to the South Pacific to evacuate Prisoners of War to the United States. He accepted a reserve commission in 1946 and was released.
Les married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia, in 1946 and moved to Colorado. He graduated from Colorado State and began working on his Master's degree. He taught mathematics and industrial arts, and worked as a coach at Walden High School. In 1950 Les's reserve squadron was activated for the Korean War. He departed for Korea, leaving behind his pregnant wife. Les flew day and night missions in Korea in an F7F Tigercat before returning to the United States to his wife and son, Mark.
Les finished his Master's degree and taught mathematics and industrial arts at LaSalle K-9 in Colorado before being offered a teaching position in La Mesa, California. He taught shop classes at Spring Valley Junior High School in California, where he and Virginia welcomed their daughter, Debra. His part-time work at Spring Valley Lumber Company became full-time until the lumberyard was forced to relocate. He returned to teaching mathematics at Parkway Junior High School. Les taught architectural drafting at Grossmont Community College and became Dean of Sciences in 1976 and Dean of Physical Education Athletics department before retiring. After retiring from Grossmont Community College Les worked as a contractor in the San Diego area until 1989. He and Virginia moved to Medford, Oregon where he continued working as a contractor before retiring to Arizona.
Leslie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Virginia Phillips, and by his son, Mark (Jacqueline) Phillips, and his daughter, Debra (Steven) Rowley, and by his grandchildren: Genny (Cameron Day) Rowley, Lesley (Scott) Slaughter, Ian Phillips and step-granddaughter, Jennifer Teague. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Simon Slaughter, Raleigh Slaughter, and Claire Day-Rowley. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnephews, grandnieces, and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mary Phillips; his sister, Frances; and great-grandson, Samuel Day-Rowley.
Les will be remembered as a hard-working man who loved his family unconditionally. He had a strong faith in God and led a moral life, doing his best to be compassionate and honest. He made friends in every neighborhood in which he lived and was always available to help anyone.
"I hope that future generations of my family will be compassionate, show concern for others and their welfare, not to be vindictive, and use their education for the betterment of all." (Leslie Phillips, November 4, 2004)
Wyman Cremation & Burial Chapel.
Leslie William Phillips passed peacefully from this earth on October 12, 2021 in Arizona at the age of 99.
Les was born on April 24, 1922 in Towner, Colorado to Francis and Mary Phillips, and welcomed by his older sister, Frances. Mary Phillips died when Les was in middle school.
Les was raised on a farm in eastern Kansas near the town of Lane and learned the value of hard work at a young age. He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he became proficient in math. He graduated from high school in 1940.
During World War II Les went to work in Kansas City, Kansas building B-25 bombers. He soon enlisted in the Navy flight program where he learned to fly, starting out in a Stearman biplane. He entered the Marine Corps, where he learned to fly an SNJ aircraft and eventually a Corsair. Toward the end of the war, he flew F6F Hellcats off of a Jeep carrier. After the war ended, his squadron was sent to the South Pacific to evacuate Prisoners of War to the United States. He accepted a reserve commission in 1946 and was released.
Les married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia, in 1946 and moved to Colorado. He graduated from Colorado State and began working on his Master's degree. He taught mathematics and industrial arts, and worked as a coach at Walden High School. In 1950 Les's reserve squadron was activated for the Korean War. He departed for Korea, leaving behind his pregnant wife. Les flew day and night missions in Korea in an F7F Tigercat before returning to the United States to his wife and son, Mark.
Les finished his Master's degree and taught mathematics and industrial arts at LaSalle K-9 in Colorado before being offered a teaching position in La Mesa, California. He taught shop classes at Spring Valley Junior High School in California, where he and Virginia welcomed their daughter, Debra. His part-time work at Spring Valley Lumber Company became full-time until the lumberyard was forced to relocate. He returned to teaching mathematics at Parkway Junior High School. Les taught architectural drafting at Grossmont Community College and became Dean of Sciences in 1976 and Dean of Physical Education Athletics department before retiring. After retiring from Grossmont Community College Les worked as a contractor in the San Diego area until 1989. He and Virginia moved to Medford, Oregon where he continued working as a contractor before retiring to Arizona.
Leslie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Virginia Phillips, and by his son, Mark (Jacqueline) Phillips, and his daughter, Debra (Steven) Rowley, and by his grandchildren: Genny (Cameron Day) Rowley, Lesley (Scott) Slaughter, Ian Phillips and step-granddaughter, Jennifer Teague. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Simon Slaughter, Raleigh Slaughter, and Claire Day-Rowley. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnephews, grandnieces, and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mary Phillips; his sister, Frances; and great-grandson, Samuel Day-Rowley.
Les will be remembered as a hard-working man who loved his family unconditionally. He had a strong faith in God and led a moral life, doing his best to be compassionate and honest. He made friends in every neighborhood in which he lived and was always available to help anyone.
"I hope that future generations of my family will be compassionate, show concern for others and their welfare, not to be vindictive, and use their education for the betterment of all." (Leslie Phillips, November 4, 2004)
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