Captain Richard H. “Dick” Phillips, 77, of “Lafite,” his beloved residence in Stewartstown, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, at War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs. He was born March 1, 1943, in Morgantown, the second child of the late W. Hugh and Sarah T. Phillips.
He was a 1966 graduate of West Virginia University’s College of Agriculture, with a major in animal science. Fulfilling a boyhood passion, he volunteered for the United States Air Force’s officer candidate school, then aviator school and finally combat qualification school.
He flew his first combat mission on Christmas Eve, 1968, off the coast of Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam, and went on to fly a total of 83 combat missions. He was decorated with 22 medals, one with “V” device for valor.
He flew the F-4E, Phantom II, with the elite and highly decorated 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, “Fourth but First,” and the illustrious and infamous 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, “Wolfpack.” He also flew the KC-135A, Stratotanker, with the always ready 41st Air Refueling Squadron, “Anywhere, Anytime.”
He participated in the USS Pueblo incident off North Korea and in the planning of emergency deployment of the F-4E’s to Israel during the Yom Kippur War. Besides the hot war in Southeast Asia, he also participated in the Cold War, flying countless sorties and endless hours of alert duty both in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia. He served in the United States Air Force from 1966-1976.
In 1976, he returned to Morgantown and joined his father in operating the Phillips Family Farm in Stewartstown, raising Black Limousin beef cattle.
He felt highly privileged to have been allowed to shoulder the responsibility of carrying the colors of the United States of America into battle. He would like to be remembered as a patriot, cattleman and connoisseur of the wines of Bordeaux, especially Chateau Lafite Rothchild, whose extraordinary quality has set the standard for all wines decade after decade.
“D-U-T-Y, H-O-N-O-R, C-O-U-N-T-R-Y” — General Douglas MacArthur
He is survived by his wife, Patricia “Trish” Phillips; two younger sisters, Nancy Taylor and husband Carl, and Sally Medrick and husband Joseph; two sisters-in-law, Connie Webb and husband Steve, and Susan Kremmer; two brothers-in-law Tony Kamerick and wife Karen, and Patrick Kamerick; plus numerous nieces, nephews, his beloved German shepherd dog and nine cats.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his older brother, W. Hal Phillips.
Services were held Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, at Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Dick’s name to Paw Prints Veterinary Clinic 1745 Mileground Road, Morgantown, WV 26505 to help with unexpected and routine veterinary expenses.
Condolences:
www.fredjenkinsfuneralhome.com
