Samuel B. “Gator Man” Phillips, Jr., of Lebanon, passed away on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at his residence. He was the husband of Grace R. (Rueppel) Phillips, with whom he celebrated 45 years in marriage.
Sam was born in Graceville, FL on Jan. 16, 1947, to the late Samuel B. Phillips, Sr., and Dovie L. (Baxley) Phillips. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran. He was an OTR truck driver for Yellow Freight for 29 years. He was a member of VFW in Manheim, American Legion 146 in Hopewell, PA, The NRA, North American Hunting Club, and the R Field and Stream lifetime member. He enjoyed American history, whether it be watching shows on history or reading about it in books. Sam was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and tinkering around the house.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, James A. (Allison) Roth, of Lebanon, Bryant R. (Lynn) Phillips, of Pensacola, FL, Dwayne M. (Theresa) Phillips, of Pensacola, FL, Keith B. (Sheena) Phillips, of Lebanon, and Beth (Bryan) Zeigler, of Lebanon; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Kenneth R. Phillips, Winona Lowery, Juanita Ward, and Mary Frances James.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. at Kreamer & Lum Funeral Home & Crematory, Rt. 72 & Camp Meeting Rd., Jonestown. There will be a viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment with military honors will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lebanon VA Medical Center, 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon, PA 17042, or ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
