Theodore ‘TK’ Phillips, Virginia Gentleman
Theodore "TK" Kenneth Phillips, 75, of Lewes, passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, surrounded by his family at Delaware Hospice Center after a long courageous battle with cancer. Born July 20, 1942, in Oak Hall, Va.,, he was the son of the late Pershing "Pep" and Nina Bull Phillips.
TK graduated from Parksley High School (class of 1960). During his childhood, he grew up playing baseball and football, beginning with Little League to becoming an outstanding player. Upon his graduation, Ted received a football scholarship to William and Mary University, where he was injured during a sporting event. Following his leave from William and Mary, he attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. Sports was always in TK's DNA, as he was an avid March Madness fan and Baltimore Orioles fan.
At one point he even owned several racehorses. He would often attend many horse racing events across Delmarva. Most of all, he enjoyed golfing, which was his life. He would often travel with his friends several times a year to Myrtle Beach for golf; he also loved surf fishing in OBX, N.C.
TK was employed as a freight conductor with the Pennsylvania Railroad, which later became Penn-Central Railroad, Consolidated Railroad (ConRail), and later Norfolk-Southern, from which he retired after 35 years of service in 2002. Upon his retirement, he and his wife, Marion loved to travel. He was employed part time for the Derrick Family at the Seashell Shop and Shell We Golf Miniature Golfing in Rehoboth. He was known for his sense of humor, and could often be found joking and teasing his friends and co-workers. In addition to his passion for sports, his love for animals widely shown through his pig collection as well as his feeding and caring for the birds in the neighborhood.
He enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter, and even taught her how to fish. He was a country music and TV comedy enthusiasts and knew every line of Andy Griffith's TV comedy. He was a 32 degree mason of the Delmar Lodge #201 A.F. & A.M, a member of the Grand Lodge of Maryland and the Scottish Rite. Most of all, Ted was a true southerner and Virginia Gentleman.
TK is survived by his wife of 43 years Marian Pollitt O. Phillips; a daughter, Belinda L. Oakley; a granddaughter, Danielle L. Oakley Dulay and her husband Evan; a special family member Jim Hughes of Restaurant 213 in Fruitland, Md.; an aunt, Francis Bull Belott; special cousin Susan Pusey (plus many more cousins); special friends, Joe and Jan LoBiondo, and Patty, Jim and John Derrick; and golf buddies, Keith Jackson and wife Denise. In addition to his parents, TK was preceded in death by a daughter, Terri M. Oakley; his paternal grandparents, Wallace Kenneth Bull and Dorothy Agnes Bull; and his maternal grandparents, Ralph Thomas Phillips Sr. and Lois Logan Phillips.
The family wishes to thank the compassionate staff of the Tunnell Cancer Center in Lewes, where Ted received his treatments. A special recognition of his dear and faithful friend, Joe, who sat with Ted during his chemo and infusions treatments, and thanks to Nancy Janssen, Hospice homecare nurse, for her care.
A Masonic graveside service will be held Monday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m., at Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury, Md.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in TK's honor to the Lewes Fire Department, 347 E Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, The Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or the Delmar Lodge #201 A.F. & A.M. in Delmar, Md. Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A., 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury.
To send condolences to the family, please visit www.hollowayfh.com.
