Larry Phillips, 84, of Centralia, IL passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at his home surrounded by family.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 27, 2021, at Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia, IL with Pastor James Rundles officiating. Interment will follow at Griffith Cemetery, Brownstown, IL. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services from 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM, Friday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society- “Discombobulated”. Online condolences can be expressed at www.hohltandfilefh.com
Larry Lynn Phillips was born on August 05, 1937, at home, in Loogootee, IL, the son of Clifford and Gladys (O’Dell) Phillips. He married Phyllis (Sharp) on May 08, 2018; together they shared three years of marriage.
Larry was a truck driver; employed by Kenosha Auto Transport (KAT) for 30+ years. He first worked for KAT out of St. Louis, MO, then Kansas City, Kansas, and finally Denton, TX. While working, in 1968 Larry and his wife of 38 years, Hilda, built KOA Campground in Brownstown, IL; which they owned and operated for 15 years. After his retirement he worked various jobs; most of those being carpentry.
He enjoyed square dancing and listening to gospel singers; his favorites being the Southern Illinois Homecoming Choir. Larry was a former member of the Masonic Temperance Lodge #16, Vandalia, AINAD Shriners Temple, East St. Louis, IL, and The Original Tin Lizzie Patrol. He also attended Central City Baptist Church.
Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Phyllis Henson-Phillips of Centralia; daughter, Barbara and husband James Rundles of Paducah, KY; sons, Gregory Phillips and wife Melissa and Kenneth Phillips and wife Robbie, both of Chaplin, KY; grandchildren: Faith Rundles, Justin Rundles, Nathan Phillips, Amy Brown, Andrew Phillips, Aaron Phillips, Rachel Kline, Brandon Phillips, and Shelby Spence; and great-grandchildren: Hayden, Peyton, Kaylee, Easton, Hunter, Parker, Samuel, Kersten, Kolton, Rayden, Rylan, Calvin, and Tayla.
Larry, who was lovingly referred to as Pops, is also survived by Phyllis’ children: Randy Henson, Sandie and husband Dave Peters, Cheryl and husband John Kwiatkowski, Pam Prather and Mark Phillips, and Jackie and husband Grady Swindell. Pops will be dearly missed by his bonus grandchildren: Jenna Kwiatkowski, Sarah Peters, Mackenzie Prather, Rachel Peters, and Quin Swindell. Pops never missed a Henson family gathering and loved telling them stories about his childhood and truck-driving days. Pops loved teasing “Quint” and taking him to Branson shows. Jenna’s fur baby, Izzy, will miss her weekly visits with Pops. The Henson kids are grateful for the love that Pops brought to PJ’s life.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Nelson Wayne Phillips.
