Wayne “Papa” Phillips, 75, 146 Miller Avenue, Johnson City, passed away Saturday, November 28, 2015, at Johnson City Medical Center. He was a native of Washington County and a son of the late Cecil and Lillie Cloyd Phillips.
Mr. Phillips was a member of University Parkway Baptist Church. He was an entrepreneur, having being the first in Johnson City to open Video Rental Stores. He also operated Wayne’s Electronics and also had worked for Holston Defense Corporation in Kingsport.
Mr. Phillips loved country music and watching the Cleveland Indians baseball.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Phillips, and two sisters, Mildred Taylor and Wilma Rollins.
Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, Phyllis Hardin Phillips; three sons, Randy Phillips and wife, Lani, of Johnson City, Richie Phillips and wife, Angie, of Elizabethton, and Robbie Phillips and wife, Leanne, of Lexington, Ky.; seven grandchildren, Benjamin, Patrick, Danielle, Nathan, Carter, Will and Maggie Phillips; two great-grandchildren, Kylie and Aiden Fagans; and many special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Phillips will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, in the East Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Home, 800 E. Watauga Avenue, Johnson City, with Rev. Bill Ponder officiating. Interment will follow at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from noon until 2 p.m. Wednesday. The family would like to give special thanks to the entire staff of the 2700 ICU at Johnson City Medical Center for the care and compassion they provided. Condolences may be made online at www.wadugger.com.
Woodall-Anderson and Dugger Funeral Home, 108 W. Watauga Avenue, Johnson City, (423) 928-2245, is serving the Phillips family.