Harold Phillips Obituary
Harold Phillips was born on May 23, 1932 in Jewell Ridge Virginia. He was the son of Beverly Julius Phillips and Ada Ruth Helton Phillips. He was the brother of Eleanor Ann Ohnmeis (dec).
Harold was the father of Connie Davis, Sandra McCoy (Ira) and Robert Phillips (dec), Jayne Ruth Phillips,
Leona McElligott, and Hollie Marie Phillips (dec). Grandfather of many and great grandfather to many more.
As a child, he spent many weekends listening to Country and Bluegrass Music. His father taught him to play Little Brown Jug on the mandolin and thus music was to be forever a major part of his life. Even meeting Bill Monroe at age twelve over at the airport in Doran Bottom and once again in 1985 in Ravenna Ohio where to his amazement Bill asked him "Here boy, hold this mandolin while I sign autographs", which made him smile all the way home.
Harold started working in the coal mines at 17 years old but decided the world had more to offer, so at 19 he joined the US Navy. He leaned more about the outside world at 19 than he could imagine a boy from the "hills" would have learned. After his time in the Navy, he went to school on the GI Bill to become a mechanic. Known as "Phil" to his friends, he started working on Blue Bird busses and finally settled in to being a Chrysler "wrench". Mechanics, music and his family became his life. Known for singing novelty songs like 50 cents, and all the country and bluegrass music of the day, he was, like Steve Marin would say, a wild and crazy guy. Loved by all who met him.
It was a glorious day when he went to be with the lord where he was greeted by Holly, Bobby and his sister "Anne".
Harold was a devout Christian and was baptized by Oliver B. Green while he lived in North Carolina. Harold and his wife sang bluegrass gospel songs in church and loved every minute of it.
He will be sorely missed by his wife of 44 years, Christine. Words cannot express the loss she feels every day now but knowing that some day she'll see him in Paradise takes some of the sting away. He will be heard leading the singing "Just a little talk with Jesus" up there in heaven.
