Billy G. Phillips

Col. Billy G. Phillips, of Arlington, Texas, passed away at home on February 19. He was 83. Funeral: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 28, at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Interment: 2:00 p.m., Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 27, at the funeral home. Bill was born July 17, 1935, in Ryan, Oklahoma to Bess and Gail Phillips. Through his school years, he lived throughout East Texas and southern Oklahoma following his father's career with A&P Grocery Stores. He graduated high school in Mount Pleasant, Texas, in 1953, and attended East Texas State Teachers College where he completed his bachelor of science degree. After college, he joined the Marine Corps and attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida, earning his wings in 1958. He became a helicopter pilot and served several tours in Viet Nam, starting with Operation Shufly in 1962. After meeting Sylvia (Sally) Benson in March of 1962, the couple married in May of that year. The couple had three children: Jim, Andrea, and Teri. During Bill's 30-plus-year career, he and his wife Sally were assigned to duty station across the country from Hawaii to North Carolina. In that time, he served as commanding officer of HMH-461, MAG-49, and Marine Corp Air Facility Quantico, Virginia. After retiring from the Marine Corps in June of 1988, Bill and Sally moved to Arlington, Texas. They became regular volunteers with the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, and they discovered a passion for serving visitors to the DFW area. Bill was chosen to become the manager of the Fort Worth Stock Yards Visitors Center, where he served for more than 20 years. Following his beloved Sally's death in 2011, Bill retired (again) in 2015, spending his final years travelling the country visiting friends, family and his favorite vacation spots. Throughout his life, Bill was known for his commitment to serving others, his knowledge of history, his love of Fort Worth, and his passion for meeting people. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gail and Bess Phillips of Lawton, Oklahoma, and his wife, Sally. He survived by three children (Jim of Pensacola, Florida, Andrea of Cleveland, Tennessee, and Teri of Arlington, Texas), two grandchildren (Stephanie and J.C.), and a great-granddaughter (Lottie). Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233