GARY A. “BUZ” PHILLIPS

VeteranGary Phillips

Gary A. “Buz” Phillips, 70, of rural Cuba died at 9:57 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008, at Graham Hospital in Canton.

He was born Sept. 20, 1937, in Canton, a son of Howard and Bernice Bishop Phillips. He married Carole E. Baughman on Sept. 18, 1960, in Cuba. She died April 27, 2007.

He also was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving are two sons, Gregg Phillips of Apopka, Fla., and Jason Phillips of Cuba; one daughter, Jill Sanderson of Sycamore; one brother, Ed (and Chris) Phillips of LaGrange Park; one sister, Nancy (and Don) Clayberg of Sycamore; and three grandchildren.

He was a lifelong resident of the Cuba-Smithfield area. He was a graduate of Cuba High School Class of 1955. He then attended Monmouth College and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.

He served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He was a coal miner, and was employed by United Electric Mine #9 and served as a pit boss at Trivoli Mine. He also was a bee keeper. He was a bus driver for Macomb and Cuba school districts, until retirement in 2007.

He was a member of Brock United Methodist Church in Smithfield. Other memberships include American Pidgon Association, National Quarter Horse Association and Smithfield Gun Club. He coached the Spoon River College baseball team from 1979 until 1981.

Cremation will be accorded. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Cuba with Rev. Ardith Corsaw officiating. Military services will be conducted by Cuba American Legion Russell Smith Post 533 following the service at the memorial home. Burial will be at Baughman Cemetery at rural Smithfield. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the memorial home.

Memorials may be made to his church.

Condolences may be sent to www.henrylange.com.

 

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 2/20/2008