William Phillips

A beloved husband, brother, father, uncle, and friend left this earth after a lengthy battle with dementia, and heart and kidney diseases. He passed away on January 1, 2022 at the age of 91. William Gerald Phillips requested a cremation and that his ashes reside at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix Arizona.  No service will be held.  Former Harrison resident, Gerald Phillips was born August 10, 1930, to Clifford and Ruby Phillips. Gerald was devoted to God, and freely supported the furtherance of education, stability, and health of churches and their communities.

Gerald was a bright boy and delighted in spending time with his brothers, sisters, and large extended family.   He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist  University, and the Universities of Arkansas and Arizona. He served in the US Army during the Korean War.  In 1956, Gerald moved to Arizona with his wife, Joetta.

He worked many years for the Tucson School District as a junior high school math teacher. He was a lifelong student and loved learning.  He was a certified CPA in the state of Arizona, and designed correspondence courses for U of Arizona. Gerald spent more than 30 years in Arizona. Gerald had a memorable sense of humor, and often spoke in sentences of mere punchlines to jokes (a habit that survives him). After retirement from teaching and the army (Col. retired), he and his wife, Joetta, returned to Harrison for over 20 years before moving to New Mexico. He is survived by his wife of over 66 years, Joetta; his brothers, Tilden and James Phillips; his children, Debra Phillips, Richard Phillips, and Lori Pulliam;  his 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; his nieces and nephews, the children of his sisters and brothers, Anna Beth, Kenneth, Mary Sue, Tilden, and James; and his childhood friend, Robert Shaddox.  Condolences may be sent to 2 Villa Ventosa Rd., El Prado, NM 87529.  Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home. To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com