Robert Leslie Phillips, Nov. 25, 2011

11:25 a.m., Dec. 1, 2011--Robert Leslie Phillips, 90, died peacefully at his home, in the company of family members, on Nov. 25.

Mr. Phillips served as administrative assistant to three University of Delaware presidents from 1965 to 1983.

Born in Freeport, Ill., on Aug. 2, 1921, Mr. Phillips joined the Navy in 1938 and enjoyed a distinguished career for 27 years, retiring as a master chief petty officer in 1965. His career took him from boot camp in San Diego, to the destroyer USS Clark in Pearl Harbor, Samoa, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, then later assignments in Key West, Trinidad and Puerto Rico. 

When he retired from the Navy, he moved to Newark and joined the UD staff. 

Mr. Phillips loved to travel and visit with his extended family across the country. He  enjoyed UD football games and was a season ticket holder from 1971 to 2004. He was active in the Kingswood United Methodist Church and the Fleet Reserve Association, serving in various official and administrative capacities. He volunteered for many years at the Veterans Administration hospital in Elsmere, Del., and was a member of MENSA.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Phillips was pre-deceased by Sheila, his wife of 46 years, brothers John and Jim, sisters Mabel, Frances, Naomi and Mary Ellen, and grandson, Michael Phillips Jr. He is survived by sister, Pauline (Tommy) Lanman, of Oregon; son Michael (Sharon), Newark, Del.; daughters Linda (Dick) Banks, Big Bear Lake, Calif., Heather Wood, Portland, Ore., and Laura (Allen) Sievert, Elkton, Md.; five grandchildren: Michelle Parrish, Kimberly (Michael Sr.) Eveland, Sherri Phillips, Evelyn Sievert, Nathan Sievert; five great-grandchildren: Melody (Kyle) Green, Brittany Long, Cody Parrish, Michael Eveland Jr. and Connor Phillips; four great-great-granddaughters: Jordyn and Kelsey Long and Layla and Mya Green; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service celebrating Mr. Phillips' life will be held at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4, at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Newark. An interment service will be held in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery chapel at 1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Kingswood United Methodist Church, in care of R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main St., Newark, DE 19711. 

To leave online condolences, visit the R.T. Foard and Jones Funeral Home website.