David Watkins Phillips, age 55, entered Heaven on Monday, the 11th of June 2012. A Houston resident, Dave was born and reared in Dallas. He graduated from Lake Highlands High School and then Texas A & M University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Dave was a star of the Aggie co-op program at ARCO. After two years in the oilfield, Dave then moved back home working at First National Bank of Dallas as an Engineer in the Energy Lending department.
He met his loving wife of 29 years, Jana Laird Phillips, on a blind date at lunch in the Cotton Exchange restaurant in downtown Dallas. They were engaged in 2 months and married within a year. Jana was his soul mate and the love of his life. Dave earned his MBA with honors from SMU and left engineering for banking. Dave's banking career took Jana and Dave to Washington, D.C. and then to Houston, first at ENRON and then back into energy banking. Dave was a devoted husband, a faithful friend and adored his pets. He was a lifelong Aggie fan and especially enjoyed driving to College Station to meet friends for the Aggie men's basketball games.
David is predeceased by his parents, Clifford Phillips and Evelyn Watkins Phillips.
He is survived by his wife, Jana Laird Phillips; his brother, Paul Phillips and his family, his brother in law, Paul Craig Laird II; and his mother in law, Mrs. Paul C. Laird. Many thanks go to his primary care physician and friend, Dr. John Burpeau.
On Thursday, friends gathered with the family for a visitation in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons in Houston. The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 15th of June, at West University Baptist Church, 6218 Auden Street, in West University Place, where Dr. Roger Patterson, Senior Pastor is to officiate. The interment service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 16th of June, at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 7405 West Northwest Highway in Dallas, Texas.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in David's memory may be directed to the Houston Humane Society, P.O. Box 450528, Houston, TX, 77245; the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 900 Portway Drive, Houston, TX, 77024; or to the Houston Citizens for Animal Protection, 17555 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX, 77094.
Arrangements in Houston are under the direction of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, Friday, June 15, 2012
