Perry Dexter Phillips passed away with his wife by his side on February 11, 2019, after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. He was born on February 24, 1942, to the late Joseph D. and Gracie Brisendine Phillips on Ambler Ridge, near Walton, Roane County, West Virginia.
He spent most of his life educating and mentoring both West Virginia and International students at West Virginia University. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Teacher Education from Alderson Broaddus College in 1963, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education in 1968, from WVU, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum Development in 1972, also from WVU. Dr. Phillips worked for the West Virginia Department of Education prior to receiving his doctorate. He taught students in West Virginia public schools and at WVU from 1963-2013, spending the last several years in online education after semi-retiring December 2007. In addition to teaching, Dr. Phillips was an administrator for many projects directed at improving West Virginia schools, including serving as Director of the Benedum Planning Grant at WVU for restructuring teacher education and curriculum.
Perry is survived by his wife of almost 22 years, Debbie Moreland; two children, P. Todd Phillips and Hillary Phillips; two grandchildren, Maxwell Phillips-Hartley and Zoe Phillips, all of Morgantown; two sisters, Wanda Kiser, of Parkersburg and Chessie Scott, and her husband, Leon, of Tenn.; in-laws, Ida and Robert Stankos, Charlotte Smyth, and Margaret and Richard Bebout, of Morgantown, Edgar and Deborah Moreland, of Chesapeake, Va.; numerous nieces and nephews; and his special buddy, Max the Beagle, a rescue dog.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Mary Kee and Blanche Britton; and several nieces and a nephew.
The family of Perry Phillips gives special thanks to Dr. Michael Craig and his staff at the WVU Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center for their care and compassion, and to all the staff and nurses at the Cancer Center Registration, Lab, and Infusion Clinic for their special assistance, care and hugs.
Donations may be made in his memory to Animal Friends of North Central WV, 252 Brewer Road, Morgantown, WV 26508 (website-animalfriendswv.org) or by donating blood to the American Red Cross.
A memorial service will be scheduled by the family at a later time.
Condolences: hastingsfuneralhome.com.
