BENTON – James Ronald Phillips Sr., 71, passed away at 4:35 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Benton Rehabilitation and Health Care.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in Leffler Funeral Home in Benton. Burial with military rites by Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the Army National Guard of Marion will be in Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
James was born Nov. 1, 1944, in Chicago, the son of Vernon and Margaret (Huth) Phillips.
Mr. Phillips served his country in the U.S. Army from Feb. 1, 1962, to March 11, 1965, attaining the rank of Private First Class.
His working career was in the coal mines, and he retired from Amax Coal Company near Keensburg, where he was a member of United Mine Workers of America.
He enjoyed hunting, horseback riding and working in coal mining.
Survivors include three sons, James R. Phillips Jr. of Benton, Danny Phillips and wife Brittany of Benton and Kyle Darnell of Logan; grandchildren, Marissa Phillips, Abigail Phillips, Brendan Schell, Jordan Prosise, Sydney Phillips, Brooklyn Phillips, Kyra Phillips, Charles Schram Jr., Autumn Schram, Brittany Schram and Tyler Mersinger; and girlfriend, Alice Shanks of Benton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a son.
To leave online condolences for the family or share memories of James, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.
