Philip " Bucky" Philipps, Jr

Philip "Bucky" Philipps, Lieutenant-Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired) Philip Philipps Jr. of Hebron passed away peacefully at his home on August 29, 2013 after a valiant and spirited battle with cancer. Phil was a man never timid to speak his mind and offer opinions for debate, and through it all there was never any disagreement on his love for family and country.

A service celebrating the adventurous life of Phil will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, September 5, 2013 Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville with Peoria Base Chaplain Sam Eddy as celebrant. Burial will follow at Welsh Hills Cemetery in Granville with full military honors.

Phil was born in the Welsh Hills of Granville on August 9, 1929 to Philip and Bertha Philipps. Upon graduation from Granville High School in June 1947, Phil joined the Navy and devoted the next 28 years to the "Silent Service" of the Navy's Submarine Force, ultimately rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

One of Commander Philipps's most notable assignments occurred in August of 1960 when the submarine "Seadragon" made the first submerged voyage to the North Pole under the ice via the fabled "Northwest Passage". Shortly after his retirement in February 1975, Phil returned to Granville and built their home in the longtime homestead off Philipps Rd in the Welsh Hills. After 10 years they moved to Illinois to care for ailing family members, where they resided for 21 years, finally returning to Ohio to make their home in the rural Hebron area. Most of his retiree life was spent tinkering with his tractors, meticulously grooming his expansive lawn with his fleet of riding mowers, planting trees, gardens and flower beds, and as all of his friends know, telling stories of his life at sea around the world. Phil is survived by his wife Opal, whom he married in San Diego, Ca. on April 8, 1950, son Robert (Patti) Philipps of Virginia Beach, VA, daughter Carol (Gene) Zielinski of Keizer, OR, son John (Debbie) Philipps of Temecula CA, son Glenn Philipps of Fallbrook, CA., brothers Kenneth (Sam) Philipps and Robert Philipps of the Welsh Hills of Granville, and 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Phyllis and Pearl. Phil will also be missed by his extended family members of the U.S. Submarine Veterans, Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Elks Lodge, and Rotary, and many other organizations.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 P.M. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at the McPEEK-HOEKSTRA FUNERAL HOME, 133 S. Prospect St., Granville. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, 4966 Euclid Rd., Suite 109, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.