John Samuel Phillips

John Samuel Phillips, 97 of Plainfield, died peacefully on October 03, 2023.  He was born on March 27, 1926 in Amo, Indiana, to the late Freda Ruth (Reeves) Atkins Phillips and Chester Elwood Phillips.  John moved to Plainfield when he was 10 years old.  He was a man of many interests and talents.  At age 12, he was an usher and popcorn-maker at the Prewitt Theater.  At 16, he was a life guard at the Plainfield Pool during the summer.  He graduated from Plainfield High School in 1944 where he ran track, played on the basketball team, and sang in the boy’s glee choir.  He joined the Army Air Corps and spent two and a half years in Panama.

John married Helen Charlene Wright on June 19, 1949 at the Westside Christian Church in Indianapolis.  He was hired at Western Electric’s installation division where he started as an installer and worked up to become the manager of the tool and parts division in the Bell Telephone Building.  He retired at age 57.  He then picked up a new profession as a school bus driver for Avon Schools.  He drove for eight years while waiting for Helen to retire.  John loved traveling.  He and Helen visited all 50 states and 34 countries.  He also traveled to Washington, D.C., on the Honor Flight with his daughter as his guardian/companion.

John loved to fix things around the house and took on building a garage and breezeway on the first house he owned.  On the second house he owned, he built a mini barn and also on the manufactured home he owned on Raccoon Lake, he built a 20-foot screened porch with two decks.  He was an active volunteer, helping three widow neighbors with their minor repairs and snow removal.  He was always ready to help friends and family.  John was a member of the Plainfield Christian Church and helped cook for the Wednesday night suppers and the Friday morning Men’s breakfasts.  He also made coffee every week for Sunday morning services and spent many years on the Golden Glows committee.

John liked to hunt small game and had a large collection of rifles, shot guns and hand guns.  Fishing was his number one hobby.  Ice fishing, deep sea fishing, casting or fly fishing using the flies he made – as long as he was fishing, all was right with the world.

John was a devoted husband, a loving father, a devout Christian, and a friend to many.  All who knew him were blessed to have had him in their life.  Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Helen Phillips and his daughter, Gail.  Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Robert Atkins; sisters, Virginia Grist, Edith Slavens; and a niece, Patty Grist.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, 2023 in the Plainfield Christian Church with visitation one hour prior to the service in the church.  Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, is handling the arrangements.  In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to one’s favorite charity.  

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