Ralph Phillips

RALPH PHILLIPS Funeral services for Ralph Phillips will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Lebanon Cemetery. Visitation has been set for Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until service time at the Ertel Chapel. Ralph Phillips, 91, of Cortez, Colo., passed away at Vista Grande on Sunday, June 2, 2013. He was born on January 5, 1922, in Asher, Okla. to William P. and Etta Bond Phillips. Ralph attended school in Francis, Okla., and worked at Ada Iron and Metal before joining the Army in January, 1942. He served in the Army until December, 1948, then reenlisted and served in the Air Force from May, 1949, to November, 1952. While in the Air Force, Ralph married the love of his life, Virginia, on August 29, 1949. After he left the Air Force he moved his family to Southern California. He became employed with The Broadway Department Stores heading up the Loss Prevention Department. He also served on the Pasadena Police Department as a Reserve Officer. Ralph and Virginia were both very active in the Elks Club. Ralph served as Exalted Ruler at the B.P.O.E. #1492 in Inglewood, Calif. from 1979-1980. Ralph retired in 1980 when he and Virginia moved to Sawpit, Colo., to live alongside his daughter Jo and her husband John. In their retirement, they assisted John and Jo with the family business, The Sawpit Store. Ralph enjoyed serving the customers by pumping their gas, washing their windows, and directing them to the best fishing holes along the San Miguel River. Ralph enjoyed spending time in the Colorado outdoors with his family. He showed his grandchildren how he used to fish with a stick and string, accompanied them on numerous hunts, and tended to the family pets, including cats, dogs, chickens, and ducks. Ralph was known for many things, including his kindness and compassion for everyone, his sense of humor and practical jokes, but mostly for playing Santa Clause to the local adults and children every Christmas Eve. In 1988, he moved to Montrose, Colo., where he and Virginia built their first home and became very active in the Montrose Elks Club. Soon after, John and Jo opened up a new family business in Montrose, JJ's Restaurant and Halftime Lounge, in which Ralph and Virginia spent their spare time assisting customers. After moving to Grand Junction to live with his son Gar in 2001, Ralph enjoyed playing Bingo, feeding the wild birds, and tending to the many trees and flowers around their house. In 2008, they moved to Phoenix, Ariz. to live with their daughter Jo and their son-in-law John. In 2011, the four of them moved back home to Colorado and settled in Cortez. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jo and John Hernandez of Cortez, Colo.; grandson and wife, Jonathon and Tanya Hernandez of Flagstaff, Ariz.; grandson and wife, Mario and Lindsey Hernandez of San Tan Valley, Ariz.; granddaughter and partner, Alicia Hernandez and Vicki Tate of Phoenix, Ariz.; son, Garland Phillips of Grand Junction, Colo.; granddaughter and husband, Glory and Aaron Spurlock of Ogden, Utah; grandson, Ty Phillips of Salt Lake City, Utah; and great-grandchildren Anthony, Eric, Rylyn, Cruz, Harper, Harlie, Ella, Emily, and Lily. Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; his parents; and his eight siblings, Woodrow, Glen, William, Ray, Hubert, Herbert, Elma and Clara Mae. Donations in the memory of Ralph Phillips can be made at the Alzheimer.org website: http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=99312&fr_id=1060&pg=fund.