Deacon George C. Phillips Jr. passed away on November 5, 2025. He was born on May 20, 1937, in Hornell, New York, where he met Mary Lou, his future wife and high school sweetheart, in the third grade.
George graduated from Hornell High School in 1955 and worked on the Erie Railroad before earning a Master’s Degree in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University. He moved his young family to Endicott to work at IBM in 1964, where he would remain for 29 years.
George was ordained a deacon in 1995 and served at his home parish of Christ the King and Our Lady of Angels, and eventually the Church of the Holy Family.
As a deacon, he taught physics at Seton Catholic Central High School, served as chaplain at Broome Community College, volunteered at the Catholic Charities Food Pantry, served as the chaplain for the Endicott Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, and led a prayer group at Good Shepherd Nursing Center.
Deacon Phillips loved his family, parishioners, neighbors, co-workers, students, and grandchildren so very much. He greatly enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sports games. In his younger years, he loved coaching youth baseball and basketball, teaching religious education, golfing, and riding his bike.
He also published three books — one on ceramic engineering and two on his son Michael’s spiritual writings.
Deacon Phillips was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Mary Lou; son, Michael; parents, George and Bernadine; brothers Thomas, James, and Michael; sisters Anne, Mary, and Sara, along with many sisters- and brothers-in-law, a niece, and several nephews.
He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Robert, Kathy, Christopher, George, and Diana; sisters Susan and Marjorie; sisters-in-law Ellen and Nancy; grandchildren Heather, Jessica, Robbie, Kevin, Rachel, George, Michael, and Martin; five great-grandchildren; several cousins, many nieces and nephews, and his great friends John Drotar and Vinnie Palmeri.
Deacon Phillips will be remembered for the great joy and happiness he brought to everyone. It was his greatest honor to serve others.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made by making donations to the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu Uganda, whom Deacon Phillips did many Mission Appeals on behalf of by mailing: c/o Sister Mary Rose Atuu / Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu / P.O. Box 970303 / Waipahu, Hawaii 96797.
