Kenneth Elwin Phillips, 84, died peacefully at the Partners in Care,
Hospice House, in Bend, Oregon, on October 1, 2009, following a short
illness with brain cancer.
He was born in Moretown, Vermont, August 9, 1925, son of the late Clyde
G. and Susannah (Corliss) Phillips. On August 5, 1989, Ken married
Virginia Heft, who survives him.
Ken grew up on the Moretown family farm with his two brothers. In 1943,
he was 1 of 11 graduates from Waitsfield High School where he was class
valedictorian. Ken, like his older brother Melvin, attended the U.S.
Naval Academy, where he was in the 15th Co., class of 1948. Ken was a
career U.S. Naval officer and retired as a captain (06) after 29 years
of service. He served at sea for six years as the engineer officer on
four ships, and then went to post-graduate school at Monterey,
California. He received his masters in mechanical engineering.
After graduate school Ken served on the naval destroyer the USS Hamner DD718. He considered this tour one of his best naval experiences and attended many USS Hamner annual reunions to reconnect with his lifelong navy comrades. As an
advanced engineer he had duties at ship repair facilities in San Diego,
Yokosuka, Japan, and San Francisco. Ken also had a tour as special aide
to the chief of Naval Ships Command in Washington, D.C. Ken received
many awards and recognitions during his naval career including the
Meritorious Service Medal.
After retirement in 1973, Ken pursued civilian ship engineering in the
San Francisco area. Ken continued working for a while, then fully
retired to enjoy traveling and reconnecting with his Vermont family. In
1989 Ken married Virginia Heft and they have enjoyed their last 20
years living in California, Arizona and Oregon.
Ken is survived by his wife, Virginia. Having no children, Ken became
an instant father, grandfather and ultimately great-grandfather when he
married Virginia. In addition to his wife, survivors include Shannon
and Bren Hirschberg; Ryan, Denise and Owen Hirschberg; and Erin, Jesse,
Kurt and Virginia Felder, all of Bend, OR. Ken also has many first and
second cousins located in Vermont and throughout the United States. He
was predeceased by his first wife, Lee S. Thorne in 1984; his older
brother Melvin in 1944 during WWII having been lost at sea on the USS Grayback submarine and his younger brother Clifton in 1945, at age 15, from illness.
A special remembrance service will be held on November 7, 2009, at
11:30 from the Waterbury American Legion at 16 Stowe Street. Prior to
the Remembrance Service, a short burial service will be conducted with
Military Honors at 10 a.m. from South Duxbury Cemetery.
In memory of Ken, donations may be made to Partners In Care, Hospice
House, 2075 NE Wyatt Court, Bend, OR 97701. Online condolences may be
sent to Ken's family at www.perkinsparker.com. Assisting the family is
the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
