William Alan Phillips

Bill was born on Oct. 5, 1950, to the late James Starke and Louise Morrison Phillips. He’s an only child, as his parents struggled to have children. He grew up on a hundred-acre farm in Goochland where he learned to drive tractors and other farm equipment at an early age. He learned many things from his parents including mechanical skills from his father and cooking from his mother. At 16-years-old he was driving a school bus and picking up fellow students. After high school he joined the Air Force and proudly served for eight years, rising to a Staff Sargent. Bill’s training while in the service included Solid State Devices and Digital Techniques which led him to his future career as a Field Service Technician who repaired things.

He later worked for Boeing in Holland for a couple of years. Bill was always fixing and making things, he loved working with his hands.

While in Holland he learned to use the loom to knit and greatly enjoyed it as a hobby.

Bill was a volunteer on the Goochland Fire and Rescue squad for 30 years. He worked as an ambulance driver and earned many awards and certificates for his service.

He later earned an Associate Degree in Data Processing from Virginia Commonwealth University. He was always continuing to educate himself.

More recently, on top of knitting items he started working with wood making bird houses, KissMiss trees and wood cabinets for his tools. He was a very talented man.

While on a service call for work he went to the Barbara Rose Johns Farmville - Prince Edward Community Library and found the love of his life, Andrea. They courted for a year after that first date which lasted 3-1/2 hours and she later became his wife.

He is survived by his loving wife, Andrea and her four children, which he considered his own, Will Bridge (Robin), Joe Bridge (Nao), Theresa Astphan-Bridge (Alyssa) and Andy Bridge (Staci). He has seven grandchildren: Madonna Brogan (Micah), Stacia Brook Webb (Travis), Mai, Akira, Anna, Layla and Kennedy. He also has four great grandchildren: Eden, Everly, Evangeline and Benjamin.

Services will be at Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville on Saturday, Nov. 23. The family will have friends and family for a viewing at 10 a.m. and a funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Westview Cemetery after service with military honors.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Goochland Fire and Rescue or your favorite charity in his memory.