William John Phillips, Jr. was the 1st child of 9 born to William John Phillips and Emily Merle Olver of Negaunee, Michigan. He was an iron miner. In Sept. 1918, he married his high school sweetheart, Ethel May Verran. They had a son and Ethel was expecting again when word came that there was going to be a mine opening in Mosby, Mo., and they were looking for volunteers to come to MO for that purpose. Bill and his father both signed up. Times were hard in Michigan. The town had been mined so much that the ground was falling in and there wasn't much work left. Going to MO was great for the family, as the men could send their paychecks back home. Ethel was living with Bill's mother when they decided to go to MO by train and be with their husbands. When they met in Mosby, Bill had a daughter he'd never seen, 9 months old. After the mine closed and the birth of another son, and no money to return to Michigan, his father left, but Bill and Ethel had to stay. They eventually moved to north Kansas City to build a new home, hoping there would be more work there. They built a small 2-bedroom house and another son was born. Bill had several jobs during the years, and 1went to night school and became an electrical engineer, eventually becoming Chief Electrical Inspector of Kansas City.
He was under the Missouri river building a tunnel when it collapsed on him and all the other men left him there alone. He said he thought about Ethel and the new baby they had and regretted leaving her alone, but didn't doubt he was going to die. Then, a peace overcame him and he felt a presence with him. A while later, the men came back and removed the rocks that had crushed his legs, pinning him in the rubble. He was in the hospital 6 weeks without seeing his wife and children, as there weren't many cars and no telephones close by.
Ethel died in 1981 and Bill lived until he began having strokes. He died in 1989, less than a month before the birth of his first great-great granddaughter.
In his older years, Bill enjoyed painting, growing beautiful flowers, and making stained glass lamps. He was the most kind and generous man many people ever knew. He's buried next to Ethel, and on the other side of her, Bob, his son, killed in WWII.
He was under the Missouri river building a tunnel when it collapsed on him and all the other men left him there alone. He said he thought about Ethel and the new baby they had and regretted leaving her alone, but didn't doubt he was going to die. Then, a peace overcame him and he felt a presence with him. A while later, the men came back and removed the rocks that had crushed his legs, pinning him in the rubble. He was in the hospital 6 weeks without seeing his wife and children, as there weren't many cars and no telephones close by.
Ethel died in 1981 and Bill lived until he began having strokes. He died in 1989, less than a month before the birth of his first great-great granddaughter.
In his older years, Bill enjoyed painting, growing beautiful flowers, and making stained glass lamps. He was the most kind and generous man many people ever knew. He's buried next to Ethel, and on the other side of her, Bob, his son, killed in WWII.
William John Phillips, Jr. was the 1st child of 9 born to William John Phillips and Emily Merle Olver of Negaunee, Michigan. He was an iron miner. In Sept. 1918, he married his high school sweetheart, Ethel May Verran. They had a son and Ethel was expecting again when word came that there was going to be a mine opening in Mosby, Mo., and they were looking for volunteers to come to MO for that purpose. Bill and his father both signed up. Times were hard in Michigan. The town had been mined so much that the ground was falling in and there wasn't much work left. Going to MO was great for the family, as the men could send their paychecks back home. Ethel was living with Bill's mother when they decided to go to MO by train and be with their husbands. When they met in Mosby, Bill had a daughter he'd never seen, 9 months old. After the mine closed and the birth of another son, and no money to return to Michigan, his father left, but Bill and Ethel had to stay. They eventually moved to north Kansas City to build a new home, hoping there would be more work there. They built a small 2-bedroom house and another son was born. Bill had several jobs during the years, and 1went to night school and became an electrical engineer, eventually becoming Chief Electrical Inspector of Kansas City.
He was under the Missouri river building a tunnel when it collapsed on him and all the other men left him there alone. He said he thought about Ethel and the new baby they had and regretted leaving her alone, but didn't doubt he was going to die. Then, a peace overcame him and he felt a presence with him. A while later, the men came back and removed the rocks that had crushed his legs, pinning him in the rubble. He was in the hospital 6 weeks without seeing his wife and children, as there weren't many cars and no telephones close by.
Ethel died in 1981 and Bill lived until he began having strokes. He died in 1989, less than a month before the birth of his first great-great granddaughter.
In his older years, Bill enjoyed painting, growing beautiful flowers, and making stained glass lamps. He was the most kind and generous man many people ever knew. He's buried next to Ethel, and on the other side of her, Bob, his son, killed in WWII.
He was under the Missouri river building a tunnel when it collapsed on him and all the other men left him there alone. He said he thought about Ethel and the new baby they had and regretted leaving her alone, but didn't doubt he was going to die. Then, a peace overcame him and he felt a presence with him. A while later, the men came back and removed the rocks that had crushed his legs, pinning him in the rubble. He was in the hospital 6 weeks without seeing his wife and children, as there weren't many cars and no telephones close by.
Ethel died in 1981 and Bill lived until he began having strokes. He died in 1989, less than a month before the birth of his first great-great granddaughter.
In his older years, Bill enjoyed painting, growing beautiful flowers, and making stained glass lamps. He was the most kind and generous man many people ever knew. He's buried next to Ethel, and on the other side of her, Bob, his son, killed in WWII.
Family Members
Siblings
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Audrey May Phillips Anderson
1902–1973
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Earl Olver Phillips
1904–1977
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Francis George Phillips
1906–1975
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Joseph Clayton "Joe" Phillips Sr
1908–2002
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Marshall Harry Phillips
1911–1979
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Allan Robert "Al" Phillips Sr
1912–2003
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Olive Margaret Phillips Spencer
1914–2002
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Gordon James "Gordy" Phillips
1920–2002
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