Thomas Edward (Skeet) Phillips

Thomas Edward (Skeet) Phillips

Thomas Edward (Skeet) Phillips, 97, passed away Thursday, June 15, 2023 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was a lifelong resident of Cleveland and was of the Baptist faith. He was a loving father and grandfather, as well as a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was retired from Phillips Service Center, where he was well-known as a Volkswagen mechanic. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ruth Robinson Phillips, to whom he was married 66 years; his mother, Gladys Cathey Rule; his father and step-mother, Luther and Frankie Phillips; his son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Eva Phillips; his brothers, Chuck Boles, Bobby Phillips, David Phillips, Leon Phillips, Jerry Phillips, and Eddie Phillips.

He is survived by his daughter, Ann Waldrop (Jim) of Parrish, Florida; his son, Barry Phillips (Patty) of Cleveland; his grandchildren, Kim deRoos (Tim), Darrell Waldrop (Misty), Karen McGrath (Chris), Christie Corbin (Randy), Dustin Phillips (Tiffany), Paige Goins (Tim); and great-grandchildren, Natalie Ingram (Drew), Brandon Nations (Sydney), Tanner Nations, Makayla Phillips, Kylie McGrath, Gabe Phillips, Andrew Bunch, Jacob Phillips, Hunter Goins, Dakotah Nelson, Maddie Nelson, Ryan Nipper, Justin Driggers; and great-great-grandchildren, Lillie Ingram, Lexie Ingram, Layna Klaire Ingram, River Phillips, and Gabe Phillips Jr.; and his sisters, Linda Rakestraw, Carol Phillips Britt, and Chris Phillips Still.

A celebration of his life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home Tim deRoos officiating.  Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Darrell Waldrop, Dustin Phillips, Brandon Nations, Tanner Nations, Gabe Phillips, Andrew Bunch, Jacob Phillips, and Hunter Goins serving as pallbearers.  Full military honors and a white dove release ceremony will conclude the service.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, at the funeral home, prior to the service.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Phillips family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.