Obituary of Ralph Phillip

Ralph V. Phillip Funeral services for Ralph V. Phillip will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at Wolfe Funeral Home. There is visitation from 1- 2 p.m. Sunday with the service at 2 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Villisca Rescue. Interment with military honors will be at Villisca Cemetery. Ralph passed away at the Villisca Good Samaritan Center on July 2nd. Ralph Victor (Bud) Phillip was born February 4, 1931 in Red Oak, Iowa, to Ralph Earl and Altha (Western) Phillip. He graduated from Red Oak High School in 1947 and then enrolled at the University of Nebraska. While at Nebraska he became a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and developed into a rabid, life long fan of Big Red football. He enlisted in the Navy on January 26, 1951 where he became an electronics technician. While he was stationed in Boston, MS, he met Patricia Hoyt, the love of his life. They were married on January 15, 1955 in Salem, NH and Bud brought his new bride to Villisca,Iowa where he started farming with his parents. Bud and Pat had two children; Ralph and Susan. During his years farming, he was very involved in raising purebred Polled Shorthorn cattle. He also became active in the community as a member of the Villisca School Board. After 30 years, Bud retired from farming and they moved into Villisca. Shortly thereafter, he went to work for Uarco in Corning. He worked there for 10 years and retired. He then went to work for the City of Villisca where he spent a large part of his time on the upkeep of the Villisca Cemetary. In his later years, Bud enjoyed woodworking, collecting and repairing old tube type radios and contining to cheer for Cornhusker football. Bud is preceded in death by his wife (2013), parents, sister Mary Leitch, sister Lois Waters and brother-in-law Jim Waters. He is survived by his children: Ralph M. (Connie) Phillip of Friendswood, Texas, and Susan (David) Rhamy of Villisca; grandchildren: Kelley (Kevin) Claunch of Pilot Point, Texas; Kerri Phillip of Lewisville, Texas; Crystal (Daniel) Parsons of Winfield, Missouri; Cathy (Justin) Riggins of Blanchard, Iowa; and Kyle (Haley) Rhamy of Glenwood, Iowa; 6 great grandchildren; brother-in-law Bill Leitch of Cleveland,Ohio; sister-in-law Gemma Stolarz of Mathuen, Massachusetts as well as many other relatives and friends. Wolfe Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.