Roll Call Tribute

Bobby Wayne Phillips
August 3, 1937 - August 8, 2022

Bobby Wayne Phillips was born in Kingsville, Texas on August 3, 1937 to Edward Stanton and Myrtle Bell Phillips. He went to be with his Lord on August 8, 2022.

Bob graduated from Henrietta King High School. Playing drums in the band all four years was his greatest interest. He left for Texas A&M early to practice with the band before school started in the fall because the band had been invited to play in the Main Street Parade at Disneyland that September, 1955. He played in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band all four years. When completing his commitment to Air Force ROTC, he was commissioned a regular officer and awarded a pilot's license. His degree was in Aeronautical Engineering.

Upon entering the Air Force, Bob was selected for further flight training. When he received his wings, he was assigned to fly the KB-50, a refueler at Biggs Air Force Base in El Paso, Texas where he met and married his wife of 60 years, Ginni. Flying the B-50 took him to Wake Island, Hawaii, the Azores, Bermuda and Saudi Arabia. He refueled jets over Cuba during the Cuban Crisis. In 1965, he transitioned to the C-130 cargo airplane. In the C-130, he flew missions to Japan, Okinawa, Viet Nam, England, Germany, France, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Lebanon. During his two isolated assignments, he was stationed for a year in both Taiwan and Thailand. From Taiwan, he flew into Vietnam where he carried everything military imaginable. Two unusual missions were carrying an infant in an incubator and rescuing an entire Montayard Village. After being trained in the C-130 Gunship, he was sent on his second combat tour to Ubon, Thailand. He and his crew lived through an especially dangerous mission when three surface to air missiles were shot at them. It's very easy to dodge two, but not three. The three flashes from the ground were unmistakable. The crew watched as two missiles flew into the air and exploded. They braced themselves for the third one to hit the plane, but it did not happen. After they landed, his crew mentioned to him how deeply grateful they were that Bob was so closely identified with God.

After retiring from the Air Force, Bob worked for C.F. Braun, builder of petro-chemical plants based in Alhambra, California. Later he was recruited by Northrop Aviation in Pico Rivera to work on the stealthy leading edge of the B-2 Bomber until its rollout in August 1989. For the next 20 years, he worked as Building and Grounds coordinator at his church, Cornerstone Bible in Glendora, California which enabled this godly man to have the time to give himself to five small grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Virginia, daughter, Taylor Johnson; grandchildren, Michael Hepding, Lauren Williams, Victoria Phillips, Timothy Johnson, Lexi Phillips; great grandchildren, Gabriella Juarez, Corbin Hepding, Paisley Johnson; nephews, Kenneth Phillips, Richard Phillips, and brother in law, Sam Snoddy.

He is preceded in death by his son, Jay Duncan Phillips.

A memorial graveside service will be held at 9:45 AM on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Brought to you by Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home https://www.doeppenschmidtfuneralhome.com