Henry Phillips, Jr.

Henry ("Hank") Albert Phillips, Jr., 95, of Waynesville NC, died July 1, 2016, of natural causes at the Homestead of Haywood Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ollie Twilley Phillips, three daughters (Tricia Browne-Ferrigno, Deborah MacIntosh, Pamella Anderson), five grandchildren (Allison Browne, Parke Anderson, Phillip Browne, Shawn MacIntosh, Paige Anderson), and three great-grandchildren (James, Katherine, Arden). Prior to relocating to Waynesville in January 2009, Hank and his wife were long-time residents of Tampa FL and members of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. Hank was born on April 6, 1921, in Providence, RI, the only child of Henry Albert Phillips and Freda Rudolph Phillips. After graduating from East Providence High School, he worked full time in a local steel mill as an open-hearth charger. Soon after the United States entered World War II, Hank enlisted at age 20 in the US Army Air Corps, a forerunner combat force of the US Air Force. After receiving his pilot wings and completing advanced flight training, he was sent overseas. Between September 1943 and September 1944, Hank and his flight crews flew 150 missions (over 600 hours) "over the Hump" of the Himalayan Mountains between India and China transporting supplies. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six other medals for his service during that year. Because he exceeded the required number of combat missions, his next wartime assignment was ferrying airplanes from the United States to wherever they were needed in the world. While in Birmingham, he met his future wife Ollie, a native of Alabama who supported the war effort as a final inspector of top-secret electronic equipment installed in military airplanes. After a two-month courtship, he married the love of his life on February 15, 1945 in the chapel at the Birmingham Air Field. The first 17 years of their marriage were nomadic, with 14 relocations to military bases across the nation, including Alaska when it was a territory and later a newly admitted state. The portion of Hank's autobiography about his childhood, marriage, and 20-year military career was published as Commander in the Sky in 2012. After retiring from the US Air Force in 1962, Hank and his family completed their last cross-continent trip together, flying from Anchorage AK to Tacoma WA and then driving to Tampa FL. During his second career, Hank served 15 years as the data systems manager for the City of Tampa. Once fully retired, he concentrated full time on golf, a sport he learned to love as a young caddy in Rhode Island and played until late in life. Hank won the 1978 Florida State Golf Association Senior Four-Ball Championship with tournament partner, Julian Serle. Over the ensuing two decades, Hank and Ollie played courses throughout the United States, collecting trophies and awards for their golfing talent. Hank was a descendant of early English colonists and late-1800s German immigrants who sought freedom and opportunity in New England. This heritage and his global travels instilled in him a passionate love for the United States. While home on convalescent leave in October 1944, Hank shared his war experiences with members of the Newman Congregational Church in Rumford, RI. In his thank-you letter to Hank, the minister wrote, "Your subject matter was most educating, and you handled it in a very human way which made it all the more interesting. Your humorous and natural comments along the way gave your words wings to our hearts." The minister encouraged him to "invest time writing your memoirs" to have ready "a body of material to draw on in later times when you are called upon to speak in public" and to assure "your story [is] preserved for posterity." Heeding his minister's advice, Hank shared his love of country and his life experiences through invited speeches to various groups, scoutmaster activities and Sunday school lessons with teenagers, presentations to high school students, conversations with daughters and grandchildren, and his autobiography. When he could no longer play golf, he regularly wrote short stories and reflections across a broad range of topics that he shared with family members and close friends. Hank had an abiding love and deeply personal relationship with God evidenced more often through his actions and writings than his spoken words. The closing paragraphs of his autobiography evidence that love: "I leave you with this. God loves you. He wants you to be all that you can be. He can't do it for you. You have to do it. He will give you the opportunity. You only go through life once. Make the most of whatever time you have. . . . Whatever you do, don't turn your back on God. Without His love, you end up with nothing. Thank you for being my family. You have brought me more pleasure, more love, than could ever been dreamed of. I hope that I served God well. I tried." A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Those wishing to make a memorial donation in the name of Henry A. Phillips, Jr. may want to consider one of the following organizations: Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church Christian Education Program 3501 West San Jose Street Tampa, FL 33629 http://palmaceia.org/ First Presbyterian Church Building Fund 305 N. Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786 http://www.firstpresalive.com/