Larry and Wilma Phillips

MARYVILLE, Ill. -- Larry Gene Phillips, 89, of Maryville passed away Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville. Eighteen hours later, his wife of 61 years, Wilma Jean Phillips, also passed away at Anderson Hospital in Maryville.

Larry was born Nov. 26, 1932, in Stoddard County, Missouri, to Otis and Gladys Mayo Phillips.

Wilma was born May 2, 1943, in Cape Girardeau and was adopted by Philip and Esther McCauley Leible.

Larry served in the U.S. Army from 1953 until 1955. He worked for Swift Independent Packing Co. for 24 years, then in the security field until retirement age. Wilma had several part-time and full-time vocations over the years but was primarily a homemaker for her husband and five children. She was a member of Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Maryville.

Larry and Wilma were both graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School.

They were married Oct. 15, 1960, in Cape Girardeau.

They are survived by their children, daughter, Denise (James) Strang of Tucson, Arizona; sons, Brian Phillips of Zephyr Hills, Florida, and Bobby (Karyn) Phillips of Maryville; daughter, Billie Phillips of Collinsville, Illinois; Larry's siblings, Shirley Blythe of Denver, Connie Louden of Texas and David Phillips of Grady, Arkansas; Wilma's siblings, Joe Ruch of Apache Junction, Arizona, and Rosemary Leible; grandchildren, Steven, Lauryn, Robert and Nathan Phillips; and great-grandchildren, Amelia and Camdyn Phillips.

They were preceded in death by their parents and their son, Kristopher; Larry's brother, Robert Phillips, and sisters, Carol Schmidt and Rebecca Smith; and Wilma's brothers, Richard Leible and Frank Ruch.

Visitation for both Larry and Wilma will be from 11 a.m. until noon Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Their funeral service will follow at noon at the funeral home. Private burial will take place at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to Disabled American Veterans at DAV.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.