Raymond Alfred Phillips, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on December 18, 2017 in his cherished homeland, Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife and children by his side. Ray was born June 7, 1927 in Salt Lake City Utah to John I. Phillips and Ethel Westover. He always had an affinity for education and attended Webster Elementary, Bryant Jr. High and East High School in Salt Lake City. He was an Eagle Scout, and a Veteran of the U.S. Navy (1945-46). He received his Bachelor of Science from University of Utah and was affiliated with Sigma Chi Fraternity. He received a Master's Degree in Business and Economics at George Washington University and a PhD in International Education from Brown University, and then extended his education as a Fulbright Scholar to New Zealand and as a Ford Scholar at the London School of Economics.
He married Marilyn Lunt in the Hawaiian Temple LDS Temple on June 12, 1957. He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and sang for 10 years in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He is a member of the Emigration 6th Ward in Salt Lake City.
Ray enjoyed teaching classes in Economics and Accounting at the University of Utah, but he had the desire to focus on putting the academic theory into practice. He was a serial entrepreneur before that term became popular, organizing and developing two successful Financial Institutions in the State of Utah. He was President /CEO and Board Chairman in these institutions and was actively involved in promoting Community Banking in Utah. With his love of travel and business, he later became actively involved in creating semester abroad experiences for high school and college students. He organized and conducted American International Academy, an educational study abroad, and the Council for International Education. He also founded a successful travel agency and real estate management company. In his post-retirement years, he help organized a charitable foundation, Council for Investment in Education, offering scholarship, grants and other financial assistance to individuals and groups focused on achieving their goals toward life-long learning. Ray also helped organize and was an active member of Utah Fulbright Chapter, and was a long-time member of the Salt Lake Rotary Club #24.
Ray is survived by his faithful and dear sweet wife, Marilyn, his children Kathleen Phillips Millet (Artimus), Cynthia Phillips Haglund (John), Kendall Phillips (LaNette), Shauna Phillips Van Buren (Jim), and Kent Phillips (Marianne), plus twenty-one grandchildren and spouses, and seven great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents, John I. Phillips and Ethel Westover, and his sister, Beverly Westover Olsen.
The family would like to thank Evie Payne and Jorge Zapata for their loving service, and Hillside Rehabilitation Center for their care the last weeks of Ray's life.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Emigration 6th Ward (589 18th Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT) with a visitation prior to services from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Friends and family may call Friday, December 22, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary (260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT).
