Joe M. Phillips

Joe M. Phillips died on May 14, 2016.  Joe was a lifelong resident of Simpson County, Kentucky.  He was born on the family farm there on February 5, 1926, the son of Ida Belle Robey Phillips and Roy E. Phillips.

Joe was a graduate of Franklin High School in 1944, and, following his military service, he received BS and Masters degrees from Western Kentucky University.

A veteran of World War II, Joe served in the U. S. Navy Signal Corps and was wounded on Guam.

While also farming full-time, Joe had a distinguished career in education spanning nearly 40 years.  He began by teaching agriculture classes to returning veterans.  He went on to teach Biology, P. E., and Vocational Agriculture at Franklin-Simpson High School, and he ended his career in education as Simpson County Schools Director of Pupil Personnel in 1985.  Although a dedicated teacher, in 1966 he left the classroom to become the first principal at the newly integrated, traditionally all-black Lincoln Elementary School.  For this, and his other contributions to education, Joe was named to the Franklin-Simpson Hall of Fame in 2015.

From his retirement until shortly before his death, Joe continued to work with students in various capacities.  He coordinated the Paul Allen Rotary Scholarship from its inception.  He oversaw the local Rotary speech contest for high-school students.  He administered arts-in-the-schools programs for Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council.  He annually arranged for all third-graders at Simpson Elementary to receive free dictionaries.

Joe was an active and enthusiastic Rotarian for over six decades.  He played an integral role in promoting Rotary’s local, regional, national, and international efforts, including programs to eradicate polio. He also coordinated group study exchanges around the world.  He served as Rotary District Governor in 1986 and was twice designated a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his services to Rotary.

Joe served on governing boards of Franklin First United Methodist Church, Lewis Memorial Home, and Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council, of which he was a founding member, active well into his 80’s.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Marian W. Phillips, and is survived by his children:  Cathy Ware and husband Dan of Franklin; John Phillips and wife Susan of Louisville; Ben Phillips; and Sam Phillips and wife Audrey, all of Franklin; and grandchildren:  Witt and Jack Phillips and Isabelle, Seth, Will, and Laurel Phillips.

Joe was beloved by his family and an inspiration to them all.  He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the Franklin First United Methodist Church with burial to follow in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, Ky., with Military Honors by the Simpson County Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday and from 6:00 AM until funeral service time on Wednesday at the Franklin First United Methodist Church.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Rotary Foundation at www.rotary.org/give.com or to the Franklin First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 107 N. College St. Franklin, KY. 42134