Richard Elliott Phillips

Richard Elliott Phillips, Sr. passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at the age of 90. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Withrow High School in that city and received the degree of Mechanical Engineer from the University of Cincinnati where he was awarded memberships in the Phi Eta Sigma, Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi scholastic fraternities. He also earned the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from LSU. Employed for 42 years by the Ethyl Corporation, he held technical positions of project engineering superintendent and advisor for transportation equipment. He was a member for 18 years and past chairman of the Tank Car Committee of the Association of American Railroads and as such represented the Chemical Manufacturers Association of which Ethyl Corporation was a member. He also had memberships including past chairmanships on the Ethyl Employees Federal Credit Union board, in the Ethyl Management Club, and was a charter member with past chairmanship of the Baton Rouge Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. As a registered professional engineer in Louisiana, he was a member of the Louisiana Engineering Society. Preceded in death by his parents, Carroll Ernest and Jane McCutcheon Phillips of Cincinnati; by his first wife Genevieve Kathryn Elberty Phillips, the mother of his children; by his second wife, Mary Sunshine White Gustafson, who reflected her given middle name, and by his third wife, the love of his life, Mary Elba Sanders McKee Phillips. He is survived by his children from his first marriage, Mary Jane Phillips Young and husband Eddy, grandchildren Matthew Judson Lange and William Augustus Lange; Frances Fern Phillips Grace and husband Colan, grandchildren Jonathan Michael and Sean Austin; great-grandson, Judson Howard Lange and great-granddaughter Coraline Belle Lange. He was a member of East Gate Lodge 451 F&A.M, of the Istrouma York Rite bodies, the Baton Rouge Scottish Rite Consistory, and the Broadmoor United Methodist Church. Memorial service will be held at Broadmoor United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 17th, Rev. Ken Carroll officiating. Please remember Richard with your gift to the church or a charity of your choice.