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Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Claude (Ko) R. Phillips of Milford passed away peacefully on August 10, 2014 at the age of 92.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on January 10, 1922, Claude was the son of the late Anthony and Lucille Pulaski Phillips Koval.
After moving to Devon in 1930, he made his life within the local community. He was educated in local schools, and played sports locally and in college. He even had a brief chance to play minor league baseball throughout the Northeast and the Southern United States. A World War II Veteran, Claude entered the US Army in 1942 and served 37 months in Europe, as a medic with the 102nd Infantry Division. There, he was awarded a bronze star with an oak leaf cluster, a good conduct medal with two stars, and a combat medic badge. While in the service, he enjoyed playing both baseball and basketball with Company, Regiment, and Division teams.
Claude earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Arnold College, a Master’s Degree from New York University, and he also earned various certificates from the University of Bridgeport. He served in the Milford school system for 32 years as an elementary school teacher, and later as a principal. In retirement, he studied rigorously to work for H&R Block during many tax seasons.
Claude volunteered both at Milford Hospital and with the local Red Cross Chapter. He was very supportive of the Red Cross program throughout his life, and was proud to have donated 89 pints of blood in total.
Claude was predeceased by his son, Michael, and his brothers, Lewis and Edward.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Emerson Phillips of Milford, and his daughters, Patricia (John) Wetherell of Milford, Nancy (Gregory) Crawford of Pacific Grove, CA, and Sharon (Ian) King of Cromwell, CT. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Jay Wetherell of Bozrah, CT, and Michael (Johanna) Wetherell of Holtsville, NY, Amy Crawford of New York City and Matthew Crawford of San Francisco, CA, and Ian King and Taylor King of Cromwell, CT; his two great-grandchildren, Madison Wetherell and Owen Wetherell of Holtsville, NY and sisters-in-law, Gladys and Helene Phillips.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: The Milford Hospital Foundation, 281 Seaside Avenue, Milford, CT 06460.
To leave an online condolence, please visit, www.gregoryfdoylefuneralhome.com.