Obituary for Harry E. Phillips
Harry E. Phillips, 85, of Wyomissing, passed away in the Reading Hospital on March 13, 2021.
He was the loving husband of Maria R. (Steuer) (Esterbrook) Phillips, whom he met on a trip to Rome during the beatification of Mother Teresa in 2003. They were married in 2006. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Phillips.
Born in Scranton, he was a son of the late Herbert J. and Viola (Madegan) Phillips. He was a graduate of Scranton Prep and the University of Scranton in 1957.
Harry spent most of his life in Clifford, Pennsylvania where he was a devoted and active member of his community. One of his passions was his volunteer work for the Clifford Fire Company. For over 35 years he did everything he could to help, acting as the secretary, serving as an apparatus driver and playing an active role every summer at the Clifford Fire Company Annual Picnic. For over a decade he also served as an ambulance driver for the Clifford Township Ambulance Association. Treasurer of Clifford Township for many years, he was a member of the Montrose Planning Commission and was the president and later treasurer of the Susquehanna Tax Collectors' Group. He was instrumental in starting a local chapter of Boy Scouts of America Troop in Clifford and served as its leader for a number of years. Active in his church, he served as a lector and Eucharistic minister and he was involved in the Lay Missionaries of Charity, participating in trips to Mexico and Haiti, while a member of St. Rose's RCC, Carbondale. Most recently, he was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, West Reading.
Harry started his career with GMAC in their finance department where he worked for 34 years. For his second career he became the tax collector for Clifford Township for 18 years, retiring in 2016. He referred to his job as tax collector as “one of the best jobs ever”. It was an important job for the community, and it provided the opportunity to meet so many people which allowed him to make great friends and relationships that lasted the rest of his life. Harry’s Clifford community meant everything to him and after he retired and moved to Wyomissing he remembered everyone and his life in Clifford fondly.
Harry was loved and cared for by a large extended family. In addition to his wife he is survived by ten children, five step-children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as Maria’s children and grandchildren. They will all miss Harry dearly.
A visitation will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading, with a prayer service to begin at 7 p.m. A virtual mass can be viewed on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. on his page at www.parisefuneralhome.com. Contributions may be made to the Clifford Township Fire Company, P.O. Box 10, Clifford, PA 18413. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfunerahomes.com.
He was the loving husband of Maria R. (Steuer) (Esterbrook) Phillips, whom he met on a trip to Rome during the beatification of Mother Teresa in 2003. They were married in 2006. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Phillips.
Born in Scranton, he was a son of the late Herbert J. and Viola (Madegan) Phillips. He was a graduate of Scranton Prep and the University of Scranton in 1957.
Harry spent most of his life in Clifford, Pennsylvania where he was a devoted and active member of his community. One of his passions was his volunteer work for the Clifford Fire Company. For over 35 years he did everything he could to help, acting as the secretary, serving as an apparatus driver and playing an active role every summer at the Clifford Fire Company Annual Picnic. For over a decade he also served as an ambulance driver for the Clifford Township Ambulance Association. Treasurer of Clifford Township for many years, he was a member of the Montrose Planning Commission and was the president and later treasurer of the Susquehanna Tax Collectors' Group. He was instrumental in starting a local chapter of Boy Scouts of America Troop in Clifford and served as its leader for a number of years. Active in his church, he served as a lector and Eucharistic minister and he was involved in the Lay Missionaries of Charity, participating in trips to Mexico and Haiti, while a member of St. Rose's RCC, Carbondale. Most recently, he was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, West Reading.
Harry started his career with GMAC in their finance department where he worked for 34 years. For his second career he became the tax collector for Clifford Township for 18 years, retiring in 2016. He referred to his job as tax collector as “one of the best jobs ever”. It was an important job for the community, and it provided the opportunity to meet so many people which allowed him to make great friends and relationships that lasted the rest of his life. Harry’s Clifford community meant everything to him and after he retired and moved to Wyomissing he remembered everyone and his life in Clifford fondly.
Harry was loved and cared for by a large extended family. In addition to his wife he is survived by ten children, five step-children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as Maria’s children and grandchildren. They will all miss Harry dearly.
A visitation will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading, with a prayer service to begin at 7 p.m. A virtual mass can be viewed on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. on his page at www.parisefuneralhome.com. Contributions may be made to the Clifford Township Fire Company, P.O. Box 10, Clifford, PA 18413. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfunerahomes.com.