Rex William Philips 1917-2001

PHILIPS, MORRIS, RUNYAN

Posted By: David Hellwege (email)
Date: 7/25/2006 at 22:29:12

Rex William Philips, 83, rural Douds, died Friday at Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua. He was born Sept. 16, 1917, south of Birmingham, the son of Will and Una A. (Walker) Philips. He married Vida R. Kerr Dec. 18, 1937, in Fairfield.

He grew up south of Birmingham and attended country school. He graduated from Birmingham High School in 1934 and attended Parsons College for one year. He worked at the creamery in Keosauqua, then farmed for 62 years. He began farming with horses and finished in air-conditioned tractors. He also did custom bailing and combining in his early farming years. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Douds and was a founding member of the Douds Field Day Association that began in 1949. He was past president of the Van Buren County Farm Bureau and past president of the Douds-Leando School Board. He was Boy Scout troop leader and was a 50-year member of Celestial Lodge No. 413 A.F. & A.M. and had served in the national guard. He and his wife traveled extensively and wintered in Hawaii each year beginning in 1979.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife on July13, 2000; three sisters, Ethel Morris, Verle Lane and Fern Runyan; and two brothers, Lester and Leo Philips. Survivors include four sons and three daughters-in-law, Kriss and Jo Philips of Boone, Marvin and Margaret Philips of Douds, Carl and Donna Philips of St. Louis, Mo., and Mike Philips of Fairfield; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Clem and Mamie Philips of Pine, Colo.; two sisters-in-law, Beryl Kerr of Douds, and Verna Ruth Boyer of Keosauqua; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Christ United Methodist Church with the Rev. Connie Markel and the Rev. Harold Harryman officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Douds.

Memorials may be given to Christ United Methodist Church and may be left at the funeral home.

Pedrick Funeral Homes of Douds and Keosauqua is in charge of arrangements.

[Source: Boone News-Republican via the WWW.]