Dale Edward Phillips

Dale Edward Phillips, beloved husband and father, peacefully went to be with the Lord January 20, 2025. He was born on August 24, 1943 in Wyandotte, Michigan to Jesse and Virginia Phillips and was their only son, born between sisters Sharon and Linda. 

Dale married Phyllis Marcum in Fairfield, Ohio in June, 1964. They met and fell in love while students at Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee. He was a Bible major for three years and later completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at Oklahoma Christian University. 

The pride of his life, three precious daughters, completed their family: Nicole (1971), Abigail (1979) and Meranda (1981). Dale was a kind, supportive, loving dad, very involved in his children’s lives. He built a swingset and playhouse above a sandbox, doll house, an easel and a bookshelf for their pleasure. He had a great sense of humor and entertained them making up funny songs and poems, making silly faces, changing lines in classic poems like ‘Twas the Night before Christmas and reading The Yearling and other books to the whole family. He encouraged their participation in sports and was their biggest fan at track meets and basketball games. He was delighted by their development of musical talents on piano, drums, flute, violin and string bass throughout their school years and beyond. 

Dale served as minister or youth minister to churches in Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. Feeling burdened by the growing number of families experiencing relationship problems, at the age of 53 he chose to move his family to Abilene, Texas to pursue a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Abilene Christian University. Following graduation in 1998, he felt compelled to counsel and help protect children who were in foster homes due to abuse and neglect. His heart was broken many times by the stories of these children during this challenging but rewarding period of his life. In 2003 he was offered the opportunity to work as a fulltime counselor to the church and community by the Westport Road Church of Christ in Louisville. He served here for the next 15 years and they continued to be his church family for the remaining years of his life. He served on the board of Childplace Children’s Services in Jeffersonville, Indiana more than ten years. 

A lifelong servant, Dale led teens and adults on short term mission trips to Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada and Fairbanks, Alaska. In the mid-1980’s he went on two six-week long trips to India where he traveled, preached the good news of Jesus, built relationships with local missionaries and took rice and other supplies to a colony of lepers whose only means of support was begging on the streets. 

Dale is survived by his wife of almost 61 years, Phyllis, his sister, Linda (Stephen) Shaner, daughters, Nicole (Chris) Flikkie, Abigail (Kevin) Cullen and Meranda Phillips, as well as, 5 grandchildren, Kevin, Jr. & Kennedy Cullen, Jon, Eli & Eva Flikkie, and several nieces and nephews. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Jesse and Virginia Phillips and sister, Sharon Cockerham. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Westport Road Church of Christ, 4500 Westport Road, Louisville on Saturday, February 8. Visitation with the family will be from 1:00-2:00 pm and the service will follow. 

Newcomer Cremations, Funerals, and Receptions, East Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville KY, 40243, is entrusted with his arrangements.