Bob was the first born son of Oklahoma farmers Bill and Emma Phillips. He served in Army Air Force during WWII and went on 83 missions as an aerial reconnaissance photographer and gunner. Bob came to Yuma, AZ. in 1945 after the war ended, initially farming and working for Arizona Edison. He became a Deputy Sheriff, then joined the City of Yuma Police Dept. After 21 years, he retired from YPD. His efforts on the PD included working undercover, and he was instrumental in establishing the agency now known as Southwest Border Alliance.
After his retirement from the PD, Bob still did not "retire". He was elected in 1988 to serve as Yuma County Supervisor for District 4, serving as Vice Chair in 1992. One of his greatest accomplishments at the end of his term was leaving office with the county financially being in the black.
Bob continued his farming efforts, including becoming successful at growing fruit trees in the desert. To learn to get apple trees to flourish inthe desert, he wrote to an expert in Israel; as a result, he got apples!
Viewing and rosary at Johnson's Mortuary August 2, 2002. Funeral services Sat., August 3, 2002 at Johnson's Chapel, followed by a gathering of family and friends at the home hosted by Esther.
He is survived by wife Esther; sons Charles Steven Phillips, Bobby (Cece) Zermeno, David Zermeno; daughter Alicia Aguirre; grandson Steven Phillips; granddaughters Sonja and Delia Zermeno, Diana and Helena Aguiree, Tyana and Don Harris; great-grandson Rafael Silva-Zermeno; brothers Charles Phillips, Bill "Red" Phillips; sisters Jo Foree, Ophelia "Rusty" Jirak & Glenna Overall; and numerous nieces and nephews.
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Bob's parents: William Lee PHILLIPS (11 OCT 1888, Ok. Indian Territory - 22 FEB 1965) and Emma POOLE (23 SEP 1898 - 01 JAN 1960) were married 07 SEP 1919 in Wagoner, Oklahoma on Tuesday, 26 AUG 1919. William Lee PHILLIPS was 1/16 Cherokee. He served in the Army during WWI.
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M1: Anita "Ann" Brown ; married about 1946; D/M Yuma Daily Sun 3/29/1960: Robert
W. Phillips vs. Anita B. Phillips
M4: Irene Sheryll Harsh; Married about 1969, Imperial Co, Ca. ; D/M 9/3/1974
M5: Sharron {??] D/M: 11/8/1977
M6: Ex-wife (#6) Barbara Ellen (nee: Hood) PHILLIPS, Find a Grave memorial #
100548579
M7: Esther nee: Unknown
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