Obituary of John Phillips

John M. Phillips passed away surrounded by family on January 11th 2015. He was born in December 1919 in Pasadena, California. He studied Forestry at UC Berkeley but his education was interrupted by the war. In 1941 John enlisted in the Air Corp and went on to teach radio and radar in Florida. After completing Fort Sill OCS in artillery, he married his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy Babcock in August 1943. Following further training he was sent to serve in the South Pacific. By the time he returned home he was a First Lieutenant and a Battery Commander. He returned to school and completed his BS degree in Forestry and worked in the Sierras for a while before moving to Eugene, Oregon in 1949. John worked for Snellstrom Lumber Company as a forester and logging engineer. In 1965 he began teaching at the Eugene Technical Vocational School while going to OSU to obtain his Masters Degree in Education with a minor in Trade and Industrial Education, graduating in 1967. He continued to teach forestry and surveying at Lane Community College when the Vocation Technical School became LCC.John was a member of many professional forestry organizations, worked with the Boy Scouts and youth at St. Mary’s Episcopal church, where he and his family attended services for many years. He enjoyed fishing as well as target practice with guns and bows. He also had a Malay pirates cannon mounted on the railing of the deck at his home on Fern Ridge Lake; the shooting of which caused great consternation to the family dog as well as the water skiers passing by his dock. He was also an avid sailor, hosting many parties and picnics for friends and family at the lake house with sailboat rides for any who were interested. He managed several small tree farms for himself as well as for LCC; logging them to thin the trees with his students and with horse loggers.In 1972, John was selected as one of two United States Community College educators to represent the U.S. in a world consortium on Forestry Education and Training in Stockholm, Sweden. Then in 1978 he was voted one of LCC’s outstanding vocational educators.John retired from teaching in 1982. During his retirement he enjoyed fishing, sailing, traveling, reading, going to garage sales and selling at Piccadilly Flea Market. He was very interested in Native American culture and became quite knowledgeable in identifying and evaluating Native American artifacts.He is Survived by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy Phillips; His brother Richard Phillips; his children Mike, Kathy, Claire, and Alan; ten grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren (soon to be 11). He was preceded in death by his son John and his grandson Eric Rynearson.There will be no service at this time per his request. Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary at musgroves.com where you are invited to sign the guest book and leave comments or memories.