Robert E. (Bob) Phillips

Robert E. (Bob) Phillips of Byron, Georgia died December 19, 2012. Services will be held on Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 11:00AM in the Chapel of Hart's Mortuary, Cherry Street, with burial in Riverside Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Saturday from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Masonic Home of Georgia, P. O. Box 396, Cornelia, Georgia 30531 or to the Grand Lodge Secretary, P. O. Box 4665, Macon, Georgia 31208. Both of Bob's parents died before he was five years old. He was reared in the Masonic Home, Macon, Georgia. He was proud of the training he received in the home (1923-1935), thankful to the Masons of Georgia. During World War II, Bob enlisted as a private in the United States Army and was discharged from the service in 1946 with the rank of Captain in the 35th Infantry Division. He participated in all (five) of the major battles in Europe, receiving a Bronze Star award, a distinguished unit citation award, and the French Medal of Honor. Bob worked for Nabisco, Inc. (now Kraft Foods) for 46 years, starting in Macon, Georgia and after several promotions, was a Regional Sales Manager in the Southwest and the Southeast. He was married to his sweetheart of 61+ years (1938-2000), Ida Mae Jones Phillips. She predeceased him in 2000. Surviving are his son, Dr. Robert E. Phillips, Jr., Abilene, Texas; granddaughters, Emily S. Reynolds and Elizabeth A. Costales and great-grandchildren, John A. Reynoles, Eden G. Reynolds and James R. Costales, all of San Antonio, Texas; and one nephew, Charlie A. Phillips, Macon, Georgia. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.