Richard LeRoy Phillips passed away surrounded by his loving family on January 2, 2017 in Carson City after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Roy was born March 1, 1928 in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Rubert and Kate Phillips. Roy was the youngest of eight children who have all predeceased him.
At the young age of nineteen Roy earned his private pilot’s license leading to a lifelong passion with all things aviation. With the help of his brother Pete, Roy purchased his first plane before he owned a car. Roy instilled his appreciation of flying to his children and grandchildren attending the Reno National Championship Air Races since its inception.
Roy flew his Stearman airplane West to Bakersfield before proudly serving his country in the US Air Force from 1950 to 1954 as a Radar Technician on B-36’s with the Strategic Air Command. After his honorable discharge from the Armed Forces, Roy went on to enroll in UC Berkeley majoring in Electrical Engineering. Encouraged by his brother Jim, Roy moved to Dayton and became a proud Nevadan.
Roy was introduced to the love of his life Donna Ann Spaletta by her sister Delphine and after much persistence by Roy they married on January 11, 1958. Roy and Donna would happily share the next fifty nine years together starting their married life in Dayton before moving to Lovelock to raise their family. Roy would continue farming in the Nile Valley for the next fifty plus years.
Roy is survived by his loving and devoted wife Donna and their children Michael (Denise), Katherine (Alby), Patrick (Kristen) and James (Michelle). He was a proud Papa to eight Grandchildren Mellisa, Alexandra, Olivia, Kate, Sam, Jack, Rylee and Claire. Roy was adored by his Great Grandchildren Barrett, Remington, Trevor, Kyle’, Braylen and Michael.
Not only was Roy blessed with a large and loving family but also his many lifelong friends with whom he enjoyed lively discussions over many cups of coffee. Roy was a humble man but found much pride in the happiness of those around him and in the comforts of a good book.
Roy was passionate about his family, flying, farming, friends and food – he held dear to his heart the memories that were made during these lifelong pursuits.
Please join the family in celebration of Roy’s life with a service at the Grace-St. Frances United Methodist Church on Thursday, January 26th at one o’clock in the afternoon.
A light reception will follow at St John the Baptist Catholic Church Hall with produce grown at Nile Valley Foods to honor Roy’s excitement of this new farming venture.
Interment will be private at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.
In lieu of flowers the family appreciates your donation to The Nevada Agricultural Foundation in support of Nevada Youth Scholarships at PO Box 8089 Reno, NV 89507.
The Phillips family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center for the care and compassion they provided to Roy and all of us in his final days.
