Ronald J. “Buddy” Phillips – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
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Ronald J. “Buddy” Phillips passed away at home on his 81st birthday, September 23, 2017. He was born September 23,1936 in Blytheville, Ark., the son of the late Sybil MacIntosh Phillips and Lt. Col. Wendell Phillips. On September 9, 2017, Buddy and his loving wife Sally Lambertson Phillips celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his son Ron Phillips (Laura) of Madison, AL; daughter Allison Dianne Thrower (Col. Jeff) of Alabaster, AL.; daughter Jean Phillips Netherland, Fayetteville; granddaughter Rachael Phillips of Kerrville, TX; grandsons: Joshua Thrower of Alabaster, AL, Brandon Netherland and Ben Netherland, both of Fayetteville, and Brad Thrower of Arab, AL. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother James (Jim) Phillips.

Buddy was a high school graduate of Columbia Military Academy, Columbia, Tennessee, and received his Journalism degree from the University of Arkansas. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Buddy served in the U.S. Army for six years. As the only 2nd Lieutenant on his base, he was promoted to First Lieutenant by General Bruce C. Clarke, Commanding General U.S. Continental Army Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, January, 1959. Buddy also worked in the Public Relations office at Army Ordnance Missile Command, Huntsville, AL.

For 13 years, Buddy and Sally lived in Memphis where their three children were born. In December 1973, they moved to Fayetteville to establish Phillips Office Supplies which they owned for 22 years. Additionally, their business served as a leading Xerox Sales Agency for Lincoln and surrounding counties. Buddy helped organize and was the first president of Volunteer Office Products Association, a statewide organization of office supply owners, wholesalers and manufacture representatives. Buddy was a member and past president of Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Commerce and had chaired the Planning Commission. For several years, POS was election night headquarters for WYTM-FM broadcasting local, state and national returns. He was a former realtor for John Hoagland of Alexander-Hoagland, Inc. From 1998 to 2008, Buddy was the editor and owner of “Real Estate Showcase of Lincoln County”. Buddy and Sally helped establish the Wesley Sunday School Class at their church, Fayetteville First United Methodist.

Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, September 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at Higgins Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 27, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to John Waples, M.D., Pat Brown and the team of treatment nurses at Clearview Cancer Institute, Huntsville, AL, as well as William R. Jones, M.D., Lincoln Health System Home Health and Hospice, and Chaplain Harold Dawkins.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 200 N. Elk Ave., Fayetteville, TN 37334, or to a charity of your choice.

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