Philip James Barber

He was born on May 8, 1940, to Beatrice V. Barber in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was an only child, but he grew up in his grandparents’ house with 14 Aunts and Uncles.

He attended St. Janes Catholic School and graduated in 1957. He attended mass at St. Janes Catholic Church where he was an altar boy. His favorite activities as a young boy were being in the boy scouts, riding his bike, swimming, roller skating, and playing cowboy and Indians with his many cousins.

Philip met the love of his life Alice Faye Mangum and married her 3 months later November 7, 1964, at St. Janes Catholic Church. His daughter Cynthia came along December 9th, 1965. He was a salesman that worked for Sears and Roebuck and sold vacuum cleaners.

He moved his family to Houston, Texas in 1967. He worked for Star Furniture and Dinettes and Barstools Unlimited. He expanded his family with Raymond in 1973 and Patrick in 1978. He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 40 years with council 7382 and assembly 2243.

He worked various jobs as a salesman over the years like Home Depot, Office Max, and at Sears when he finally retired in 2004. Phil and Alice moved to Copperas Cove from Pennsylvania in 2005 to live with their daughter and granddaughter while she was stationed at Fort Hood. Phil traveled to Kansas with his daughter when she was transferred to Fort Riley. They came back to Copperas Cove in 2016 when his daughter retired.

Philip is preceded in death by his mother Beatrice, and his wife Alice of 44 years, Stepson -n- law Scott Heinly, and his best friend Reuben Nimri.

Survivors include his daughter Cynthia and husband Sean O’Dea, Sons Raymond and wife Heidi, Patrick and wife Sandra; granddaughter Emily Barber; Brother-in-law John Mangum of Temple, niece Jennifer Mize and husband Jonathan of Hewitt, great nieces Audrey and Reagan, great nephew Keller. Stepdaughter Carla Heinly of Houston; Step Grandchildren Justin Stovall and Samantha Heinly; His cousin Howie Green of New Jersey.

I want to thank the staff at Hill Country Heights for the care you have done for my father and to Gentiva Hospice for providing care and comfort for the last month of his life.