Mr. Gene “G.T.” Phillips, age 88 of Benton, KY died on Sunday, November 25, 2018, at Baptist Health in Paducah, KY. He was a life long member of the Benton Church of Christ. He was retired from BF Goodrich and Westlake Chemical Companies with 39 years of service. He served as a paratrooper during the Korean Conflict and as a basic training company 1st Sgt. during the Berlin Crisis. He was volunteer and board member of the Marshall Co. Needline for 20 plus years. Born Sunday, March 23, 1930. He was the husband of the late Martha Shemwell Phillips. Surviving are his children, Johnny Phillips, wife Tracy of Paducah, KY and Charlie Phillips, wife Denise of Benton, KY, Julie Phillips of Tullahoma, TN, Janie Turner of Benton, KY, 15 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Also surviving are daughter-in-law, Marcie Nance, husband Mike, brothers, Eddie Phillips of Benton, KY and James D. Phillips of Providence, KY, and sisters, Donna Moss of Benton, KY, and Ann Birdsong of Benton, KY. He was preceded in death by Martha Shemwell Phillips, his wife for 59 years and a son, Stephen Casey Phillips, and his parents, William T. Phillips and Reba Blakeney Phillips, sister, Janice Phillips, and brothers, Gerald L. Phillips and Billy K. Phillips. A Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Collier Funeral Chapel located at 211 West 5th St. Benton, Kentucky 42025 with Mark Ray officiating. Interment will follow in the Smith Cemetery. Visitation will be held between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Collier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be given to the Marshall County Caring Needline, PO Box 36, Benton, KY 42025.
