Phillip Encinas Lopez

A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Henderson, Nevada, with a committal service and inurnment to follow at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery at noon.

He is survived by his wife, Marianne Lopez of Clifton; three sons, Phil of Hillsboro, Oregon, David of La Habra, California, and Paul of Las Vegas, Nevada; four daughters, Carmen Munoz and Yolanda Hefington, both of Las Vegas, Vivian Lopez of Cabazon, California, and Crystal Smith of Lubbock, Texas; three brothers, Ruben, Dickie and Eddy; two sisters, Linda Bermudez and Rose Taylor; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to the veterans organization of one’s choice.

PHILLIP LOPEZ April 15, 1927 - Feb. 26, 2015. Phillip ""Phil"" Encinas Lopez, 87, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Phil passed away at the Community Living Center in the Veterans Medical Center, Grand Junction, Colo. Phil was born April 15, 1927, in Phoenix, to the parents of Melecio and Dionica Lopez. He served in World War II and climbed the ranks to corporal duty NCO. Phil was a parachutist for the 511th Airborne Division and received decorations which included Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal. When Phil came home from the military, he married his first wife, Lydia Lopez (deceased), in 1947. They moved to El Paso, Texas to raise a family. In 1952, Phil joined the City of El Paso Police Department, and became a detective in 1954 until 1964. Phil then moved to southern California in 1964 and worked as a forklift operator for Mayfair Markets and called Whittier, Calif., his home until 1976. In 1976, Phil called Las Vegas his home, and where he met and married, Marianne Desjardine in 1980. Phil started his final occupation at the Las Vegas Hilton from 1977-1994, where he retired as assistant director of security. Phil is survived by his wife, Marianne; sons, Phillip Lopez Jr., David Lopez and Paul Lopez; daughters, Carmen Munoz, Yolanda Hefington, Vivian Lopez and Crystal Smith; brothers, Ruben Lopez, Richard Lopez and Edward Lopez; two sisters, Linda Bermudez and Rose Taylor; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 9, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 130 N. Pecos Road, Henderson. Memorial services will follow at noon at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City.