James Rich Phillips

Dr. James Phillips passed away on October 6, 2018 after an extended illness. Dr. Phillips provided pediatric care for the children of Grand Prairie, Texas, for many years and was well-loved. He was the epitome of the country doctor with his black bag and was always on-call to help those when Grand Prairie was a much smaller place.

Dr. Phillips was born in Burkburnett, Texas to John Shookman Phillips and Georgia Edward Rich in the middle of the oil boom. He grew up in the San Antonio and Houston area. At the age of 17, he followed his brother into the Army to serve in World War II. During the war, he was a member of the Army Specialized Training Program which gave him the opportunity to attend college and later medical school. After the war, he completed medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch, at Galveston and graduated in June 1949. While at UTMB Galveston, he met the love of his life, Roycerene Hruzek, who was a fellow medical student. They married at the First Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas, on June 24, 1950.

In September of 1950, Dr. Phillips joined the Army as a doctor as part of the Korean War buildup where he served in Japan and practiced pediatrics. Later, he served with the 4th Medium Tank Battalion at Ft. Hood before his honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant. After the Korean War, Dr. Phillips and his wife set up practices, in the then sleepy town of Grand Prairie, Texas.

Through his pediatrics work, Dr. Phillips developed a life-long affinity for the little ones and was always happy to see a small child out and about in the world.

When not caring for children, Dr. Phillips had a love of travel, hiking, and exploring the remote places of the world. He and his sister were some of the first people to backpack into the newly announced Guadalupe Mountains National Park. As with “true” Texans, his heart was with his gentleman’s ranch in the country where he spent many happy hours building and managing the land, with his sister and her husband Carl Scott.

He was pre-deceased by his parents, John Shookman and Georgia Rich Phillips, his brother Jack Shookman Phillips, his sister Sarah Ellen Phillips, and a son Randall James Phillips. He is survived by two sons, Keith of Coppell, TX and Craig of King George, VA; two nieces, Zoe Ellen Scott of Brock, Texas and Sara Frances Phillips of Houston, TX; two grand-nieces, Alisa Brandstetter of Mansfield, TX and Lesley Hurley of Weatherford, TX; daughter-in-laws, Susan Hensley Phillips of King George, VA and Kathleen McNeff of Coppell, TX; and two grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth and Catherine Allison Phillips both of King George, VA.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 11, 2018, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, Texas. A Graveside Service will be held the following day, Friday, October 12, 2018, at 10:00 A.M., with interment immediately following in Moore Memorial Gardens.