Glenn Allen Phillips

Glenn Allen Phillips, USAF/CS retired, of Fort Walton Beach passed away on Sept. 22nd at the age of 91. He was born on August 28th, 1929 to Joseph and Bertha (nee Harker) Phillips in Fort Lauderdale, FL. As a youth he enjoyed scouting, earning his Eagle rank in April 1944 at the age of 14. He graduated from Fort Lauderdale Jr/Sr High School and was a member of the school's swim team. He then studied engineering at the University of Florida while on a swimming scholarship lettering 3 years. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and R.O.T.C. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1952. After graduating, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force and began flight training at Hondo AFB, near Waco, TX where he met Thelma Magures who would become his wife. While in the US Air Force, he flew fighter jets (call sign "Fishback"), evaluated ballistic missiles and launch systems, trained new pilots, and was rated in a number of jet, single, and multi-engine aircraft. Transferring to the Civil Service in 1968, he worked for the Armament Lab at Eglin AFB until his retirement in 1988. He enjoyed scouting, sailing, fishing, canoeing, shooting sports, playing the ukulele, and rock hunting. Like his father and older brother he was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Eglin Rod and Gun and Hurlburt Field Rifle and Pistol Clubs serving as newsletter editor for several years in both clubs. He served a year as President to the Playground Gem and Mineral Society in Fort Walton Beach and volunteered many years as a scout leader (Pack 522), band parent, and as a USA Southeastern Swimming official at local YMCA and school swim meets. After retirement he competed in Masters Swimming, took many classes at the Center for Lifelong Learning such as Tap, Scottish and Irish dancing and also taught gem and mineral classes at the Center. As a member of the Playground Gem and Mineral Society he devoted many years to teaching cabochon making and faceting and occasionally giving presentations at club meetings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Bertha Phillips, his sister Janice Phillips Brown Hagy, his brother Joseph Phillips Jr., and his wife Thelma Christine Magures Phillips. He is survived by his four children, Donna and her husband Tom Haugh, Sharon Phillips, John Phillips and his wife Tina, Mark Phillips and his wife Shaun, and his eight grandchildren, Christopher and Kevin Haugh, JeNee, Joshua, Michael, Patrick, Katherine, and William Phillips. Other survivors include his sister Helen Phillips Whipple, brother Paul Phillips, sister Nancy Phillips Burton, cousin Don Phillips, sister-in-law Flo Phillips, many nieces and nephews, and other family members.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM on October 2, 2020 at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 161 Racetrack Rd NW, Ft. Walton Bch. Services will be held beginning at 2:00 pm at the same location. Interment will be held at a later date with family at Barrancas National Cemetery where he will join his wife adding to their 55 year journey together.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Glenn's name to favorite charities of choice.

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