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Rex Ivan Phillips, 69, passed away on Monday November 26, 2012.
Mr. Phillips was a lifelong resident of Lauderdale County. Rex worked in
the dairy industry from the age of eighteen, moving from helper at Rock City Ice Cream
of Nashville, TN, route salesman for Velvet Ice Cream, Nashville, TN, and continued
until his retirement in sales management for Barber’s Dairies of Birmingham. Rex’s
career with Barber’s spanned 34 years.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Wesley Phillips and Ada Pearl Berry Phillips;
sister and brother-in-law, Carlene Phillips Green and Melvin Green; father and mother-in-law
Delbert Lee Lawson and Bertha Corinne Pruitt Lawson.
Rex is survived by his wife of fifty years, Wanda Jane Lawson Phillips; daughter Laura Corine
Phillips Howard and son-in-law Jimmy Dale Howard III; grand daughters’, Ada Corine Howard
and Emery Anne Howard; sister, Imogene Phillips Nichols and husband Clyde; brothers,
Bill Phillips and wife Bobbie; Ray Phillips and wife Rosena; brothers-in-law, Michael Lawson and
wife Diane; Bruce Lawson and wife Dana. In addition he is survived by Sam
and Gracie Cox, two children whom he dearly loved.
Rex believed in and practiced honesty and integrity in every aspect of his life, from his
work ethic to the strong family ties he cherished. He enjoyed “tea parties” with grand daughter
Ada and feeding ice cream to grand daughter Emery. He was an avid NASCAR and
Alabama Crimson Tide fan.
Services will be at Greenview Memorial Chapel. Visitation from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday,
November 27, 2012. Funeral in the chapel at 2 PM on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
with burial to follow in Greenview Cemetery. Officiating will be Brother Ashley Pettus.
Pallbearers will be nephews, Tommy Green, Rusty Phillips, Barry Phillips, Chip Phillips,
Zachary Lawson and Jonathan Lawson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate)
Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.
