Mel Phillips

Mel Phillips, 88, of Columbia, MD, passed away on December 27, 2019. He was the beloved husband to Helen Phillips, loving father to Steven Phillips (Fran G. Phillips), Vicki Phillips Greene (Roy Greene) and Linda Phillips Stewart (Michael Stewart) and adored grandfather to Sam, Daniel, Camey, Kathryn, Cristian and Ryan.

Born in Lander, Wyoming, he was the son of the late Floyd Phillips and the late Caroline Hurtado. He grew up on the Fort Washakie Indian reservation with older brother, Homer Phillips (deceased) and younger sister, Audrey Burnett. He is survived by his Aunt, Rosie Harris, nieces Caroline Mills, Toni Jolley, Maureen Didier and Ronnie DiJoseph, nephews Floyd Phillips, Quinn Phillips, Tim Krause, Ed Krause, Lewis Krause and Vance Spriggs and cousin Swede Harris.

After graduating from Lander High School, he moved to Washington DC to attend Georgetown University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. Following college, he served in the United States Marine Corps. for two years. After serving in the military, Mel returned to Georgetown to earn his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. While in college, he met his wife, Helen, at a dance and they were married January 11th, 1958.

After successfully passing the bar exam, Mel was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court. Mel spent his law career working at several agencies within the federal government, spending most of his time with the Government Accountability Office. He retired in 1986 and had a very full and enjoyable retirement. He and Helen spent 20 happy years in Grants Pass, Oregon and relocated back to Maryland in 2015 where they enjoyed being closer to family and becoming an active part of the Evergreen community.

Mel loved to spend his time outdoors. He loved to golf, fish, travel, play bocce ball and, of course, take his daily walks. When indoors, he loved to play Trivial Pursuit, drink wine, read, listen to music and binge-watch Netflix series.

Mel never met a person, or dog, that did not become a friend and was one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He will be dearly missed.

Services for Mel will be held at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church at 10431 Twin Rivers Road in Columbia, MD on January 8th at noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation of the National Capital Area in Mel’s name.