Chester W. “Chet” Phillips, 90, of Columbus, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 at Smith-Phayer Hospice House in Landrum. Born Sept. 19, 1922 in Duluth, Minn., he was the son of Chester and Doris Black Phillips.
He lived in Fargo, N.D. prior to entering military service in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers three years, mostly in India and Burma. He married Virginia Garrett of Miami, Fla. in 1946 and graduated from Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn. in 1949.
At that time he and Virginia moved to Miami and operated a retail business for 16 years, after which he began a home-building business. In 1971, they moved to Hendersonville, N.C., where Chet continued building until retirement. He developed the Dellwood subdivision, in which he built the Dellwood apartments and most of the homes.
He was a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he participated in the music program. He contributed to the Community Foundation of Henderson County, Pardee Foundation and Free Clinics. He also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels and WNC Air Museum, where he owned and flew several aircraft.
In 2003, he and Virginia moved to Tryon Estates in Columbus, where he was preceded in death by Virginia after 57 years of marriage.
In 2004, Chet married Marjorie Ann Thomas, also a resident of Tryon Estates, where they continued to live. He is survived by his son, Daniel, and his wife, Rebecca, of Fletcher, N.C.; his daughter, Carol, of Hendersonville, N.C.; his brother, Bob, of Winter Park, Fla.; his brother-in-law, Willis Garrett of Hendersonville, N.C., and several nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 at Tryon Presbyterian Church, conducted by Pastor Dent Davis and Chaplain Ralph Kuether. Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation of Henderson County, 401 N. Main Street, Suite 301, Hendersonville, N.C. 28792. Flowers may be delivered to Shuler Funeral Home. A guestbook or sympathy card is available at www.shulerfuneralhome.com.
Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.