Ronald Phillips' Obituary
Ronald “Dude” Eugene Phillips, a loving husband, father, Papa, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 29, 2024, at the age of 86.
Ron was born to Kenneth and Vivian Phillips on September 30, 1938, in Kansas City, Missouri. He met the love of his life, Sharon Phillips, in junior high, and they married on April 18, 1958. He and his wife moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963 and built a family with their two daughters, Rhonda and Roxanne. He worked and traveled the world through his job with Skelly Oil, but his favorite trip was always traveling to Branson at Christmastime with his sweetie. Ron’s personality was larger than life, and he always had a well-timed, mischievous joke. He loved playing baseball, racquetball, and bowling as well as cheering on the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oklahoma State Cowboys. He started every day with a crossword puzzle and ended it watching Wheel of Fortune and eating an orange. His sense of humor and charisma shined in his service to his church family at the Church at Battle Creek, where he played the role of “Grandpa Henry” in the Kids’ Club and greeted everyone with a warm smile every Sunday. He devoted his life to Christ and was later baptized on October 21, 2024. Around this time of year, Ron would have been busy putting up his Christmas Village, latch-hooking rugs for his kids and grandkids, and listening to Christmas music by Bing Crosby and Perry Como.
Ron is preceded in death by both parents, his older brother (Kenneth “Topper” Phillips) and younger sister (Beverly Slayton). Ron is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years (Sharon Phillips), his two daughters (Rhonda Slavin and Roxanne Groves), seven grandchildren (Renee Laughlin, Phillip Slavin, Amanda Jones, Christopher Stow, Timothy Slavin, Daniel Groves, and Nicole Groves), ten great-grandchildren (Cameron Stow, Jeremiah Jones, Madison Stow, Melanie Stow, Carter Stow, Pippa Slavin, Quinleigh Stow, Emmie Slavin, Bennett Slavin, and Sunny Groves), and his eldest sister (Shirley Overbay). The family invites you to celebrate Ron’s life with us. The visitation is on Tuesday, December 3 from 4 to 7 PM; the funeral service is on Wednesday, December 4 at 12:30 PM followed by the burial at 1:30 PM. All services will be at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow.
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