Clarence William Phillips of Ormond Beach, Florida, entered eternal life on April 14, 2020.  He was 87 years old.  He is reunited with his wife, Mary Virginia Phillips, his parents, Hilda Davis Vanneman and Clarence Mozart Phillips, as well as his daughter Alice, and his infant granddaughters Grace and Emily.

Bill was born in Washington, DC, but returned to his parents' home state to attend Georgia Tech, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.  While at school, a friend set Bill up on a blind date with a girl named Ginny, who attended nearby Georgia State.  Bill fell for this shy and charming beauty, and she for him; just a year later saw them married.  For their honeymoon they traveled throughout the state of Florida, but it was their visit to Ormond Beach that would call to them again and again, until in 1967 they made it their home.  With Ginny's unwavering support, Bill went into business for himself in 1970.  There he worked tirelessly and successfully until he fully retired in 2016 at age 83.  He loved working and loved the people with whom he worked; maybe that's why it took him so long to give it up.

Bill loved dogs (a lot), as well as cars, trains, ice cream, wine, classical music, and beautiful women.  He had a deep and abiding love of puns and told one joke really, really well.  He was a born engineer, always wanting to know how things worked, but at the same time a born teacher, because he was never truly happy until he'd explained it to you as well.  He never stopped learning.

Bill lived a long and healthy life filled with friends, family, and adventure.  He served in leadership of the Navy League and the Daytona Beach Symphony Society, and was a member of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), the Museum of Arts & Sciences, and the Halifax River Yacht Club, because those were the places where he found kindred spirts.  Bill's vibrant spirit lives on in his two children Dave Phillips and Laura (Gabe) Saporito; his four granddaughters, Gabriella, Anna, Catherine, and Rachel Saporito; and his two nieces, Caryl (John) Barker and Sandra (Chris) Hackett.

Friends and family will gather to celebrate his life at 10:30 am on Friday, June 26th, at Lohman Funeral Home in Ormond Beach.  In lieu of flowers, Bill would want you to give to the Halifax Humane Society, where you find friends for life.