Leslie Linden Phillips Jr.

Leslie Linden Phillips Jr., 86, of Fredericksburg, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at Knopp Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

A memorial service is being held today, Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m., at First Baptist Church with the Rev. D.G. McCoury officiating.

Phillips was born Nov. 24, 1928, in Blanco County, the son of Leslie Linden Phillips Sr. and Bessie Lee Hill Phillips. He married June Wienecke on Oct. 24, 1950, and she survives.

After graduating from Harper High School, Phillips served for two years in the U.S. Army, from 1950-1951, during the Korean conflict.

He attended San Antonio Junior College, later transferring to Texas A&M University, where he earned his bachelor of education degree in 1957.

Phillips taught one year in San Antonio, followed by two years working in retail in Odessa.

He brought his family to Fredericksburg in 1960, when he began teaching distributive education at Fredericksburg High School. He subsequently earned his counselor’s certificate from the University of Texas in 1964.

He became counselor at FHS, serving for 27 years and helping guide generations of high school students. For many years, he drove the school bus, both regular routes and often taking the football teams to away games.

From 1987-1994, he worked part time as counselor at Harper High School.

Phillips was a member of First Baptist Church where he sang in the choir. He was also a member of the Fredericksburg Jaycees, and a licensed real estate agent.

In addition to his wife, Phillips is survived by children Duane and Eileen Phillips, Vickie Phillips, Valerie Phillips, Dawn and Phil Houseal, and Wade and Sharon Phillips; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Phillips was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Madeline Willmann Bush and Tommye Everett; one brother, Weldon Phillips; one daughter, Gwyn Phillips Morgan; and one granddaughter, Sierra Phillips-Hess.

Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity or Hill Country Memorial Hospice.