David Phillips Jr. was born in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, March 8, 1929, the 11th of 13 children from the parentage of David Phillips Sr. and Ella Cummings. Having graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, Texas, David obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Texas College in Tyler, Texas. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Following college, he went to the United States Army for two years, where he fought in the Korean War and obtained the rank of Sergeant before an honorable discharge.
He married Lois Mae Starks in 1955, and two daughters were born to this union, Cherilyn Cheree, and Kathy Lynn. Professionally, he retired as a Chemical Technologist from Texas Instruments in 1992.
He was a member of the Hamilton Park Church of Christ, where he was ordained as an elder in 1984. There, he served as a song leader and was responsible for maintaining the books for the congregation. To ensure his capability of the tasks, he perfected his music reading by employing a pitch pipe, and he took accounting classes to become adept at his financial assignment. He faithfully served at the Hamilton Park/Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in that capacity for more than 59 years until shortly before his death.
His family members who preceded him in death are: Bruce Phillips, Earnest Phillips, Jewel Phillips (1 year old), Bernice Stewart, Allene Fields, Catherine Williams, Lucille Douglas, Zelma Casey, Mamie Lee Harden and Lawrence Phillips.
David Phillips Jr. is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lois M Phillips; daughters Cherilyn and Kathy; brother Louie Phillips, sister Ververly Phillips; a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends. Bro. Phillips passed away peacefully just before the Lord’s Day, with his family members by his side. He will be laid to rest at the D/FW Memorial Cemetery. His playful smile and tongue-in-cheek comments will be sorely missed.
