Jim was born in Portland of Greek American parents, George and Diamontoula Filipu. He graduated from Washington High in 1944 and went on to Reed College for a year before transferring to University of Washington where he went for three more years. He was inducted into the US Army and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska for three years where he was in the Field Artillery. Later, he enrolled in the Army Reserves, where he eventually was commissioned as a Colonel. He served a total of 38 years.
He worked in real estate and then in insurance in Seattle; Denver; Athens, Greece and Israel after spending two years at the Pentagon, where he was tasked with working on the plan to abolish the draft, not his idea of what should be done, but he did it, anyway. He later was honored to be part of the group who put together building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington Park in Portland.
While living and working in Greece, he was sent to the Island of Cyprus and found himself in the middle of an uprising between Greeks and Turks. He commandeered the dining room of the hotel and worked on keeping the people calm and safe. The non-Greek speaking “prisoners” were told to stay inside. In Greek the announcement was to stay inside or be shot.
Sometime after returning to the Portland area he met Ann, whom he married in 1985. Following their marriage they worked together in real estate for many years. They have a blended family of 7, Deborah Phillips; Becky Olson (Bill); James Phillips, Jr.; Jessica Fumano; Shanona Vargo (Michael); Kevin Carsh (Candace) and Kelly Carsh (Jodi); 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, also many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mnostoula Kanelis and brother Phillip Phillips.
Jim and Ann very much enjoyed motor homing and lived in one for 10 years, traveling all over the US and into Canada and Mexico. He was elected NW Area VP of Family Motor Coach Association, a position he held for 4 years. They spent many winters in Arizona and several summers on the Oregon coast.
Some of his fondest childhood memories were of riding with his Dad in the Model Bakery truck delivering bread on Saturdays. In his later years he enjoyed laughing at reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” He also liked to match wits with contestants on “Jeopardy and “Wheel of Fortune” (he was “in love” with Vanna.)
He was a long time member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and loved attending services there.
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Alzheimer's Association
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