EWELL CURTIS PHILLIPS, 79, died on June 10,
1989 in Kettering, OH, with burial in Beavercreek,
OH.
He was born on Sept. 7, 1909 in Ranger, TX to
Bradford R. and Katie Guyton Phillips. Ewell
attended Ranger High School in the Class of
1926/1927 and Ranger Jr. College. He married
Elizabeth Brook and she died in 2003. Their
son was Ewell Phillips, Jr. His siblings were
Will Phillips, Harry Phillips, Robert Phillips,
& Leah Phillips (RHS-1931). All of his siblings
are now deceased.
SON: DR. EWELL CURTIS PHILLIPS JR. passed
peacefully in his home in Cookeville, TN on
Dec. 9, 2024.
Curt was born in Ranger, TX on August 15, 1931,
the son of Ewell Curtis Phillips, Sr & Genevieve
Elizabeth Phillips.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his
first wife Ida (Walters) Phillips, and his son
Tim Phillips.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judy
Phillips, his daughters Cathy Phillips of West
Chester, OH & Sally (Chris) Widener of Spring-
field, OH, as well as his step daughter Cathy
(Steve) Herrin of Pisgah, AL & son Brad (Shannon)
Phillips of Knoxville, TN. He is also survived
by his son-in-law Pat Jones of Cookeville, TN,
7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
Curt graduated from Stivers High School in 1949
while completing Eagle Scout honors. Following
that, he graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery
from the Ohio State University in 1955. After
graduation he served two years in the U.S. Army
as a dentist with the rank of Captain. Following
an honorable discharge, he opened his own dental
practice in Dayton, OH. During this time he also
served as a deputy coroner in Montgomery County,
OH. Following his retirement in 1994, he moved to
a farm in Cookeville, TN. Although he enjoyed
retired life, he still felt a calling to serve
the community as a dentist and returned to work
as an instructor in the dental hygiene program
at Kentucky Technical College in 2001-2002. In
2002, he began practicing as a dentist for
Tennessee Public Health in 2002 until retiring
for good in 2017.
Curt was an avid athlete, participating in intramural
football in college and adult softball well into
his 60s. He loved to cheer on his beloved Buckeyes
in football and basketball. Curt and his family
raised and showed POA ponies for many years, and
he became the Vice President of the national POA
association. Following his move to Tennessee, he
and Judy continued to raise and show American
Quarter Horses. He was also a fisherman who shared
the sport with his children and grandchildren
throughout his life.
Most importantly he was a loving father and kind
gentleman to all around him.