Robert Monroe Phillips, Dvm
June 3, 1924 — September 17, 2023
Robert Monroe Phillips, 99, of Manhattan, died on September 17, 2023, at Meadowlark.
He was born June 3, 1924, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the youngest of five children of Herbert William and Adeline May (Dicken) Phillips. When he was an infant, his family moved to Elk County, KS after his father was disabled from a work injury. They later moved to Wichita where he graduated from East High School in 1942. He served in Europe in the Army Air Force during World War Il, and was honorably discharged.
He married Opal Korean Brown in Wichita on April 7, 1946. They moved to Manhattan later that year and he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine in 1951. He began his veterinary career in Fergus Falls, MN, moving, in 1953, to Oberlin, KS where he started a predominantly large animal practice. In 1969 he entered graduate school at the University of Georgia where he earned a Ph.D. In medical microbiology in 1972. After 3 years at Jensen-Salsbery Laboratories in Kansas City he accepted a virology position in the diagnostic laboratory at the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine where he remained until his retirement in 1994.
As a man of faith, Bob was active in his church and community, and considered it a joy to serve others. He was also an avid golfer well into his 90’s and enjoyed playing with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his 4 siblings, and his son Jeff. He is survived by his wife, children Tom (Jenny) Phillips of Seattle, WA, Mary (Rod) Vestal of Sherwood, AR, Paul (Beth) Phillips of Woodland Park, CO, 6 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church of Manhattan, Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 10:00 am until the memorial services at 11:00 with Pastor Chris Geyer officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, KS.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church, 2121 Bluehills Rd. Manhattan, KS 66502, or to the Kansas State University Foundation.
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