William Vernon "Bill" Phillips, age 85, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 2, 2022. Bill was born on June 12, 1936, in Flomaton, AL to the late Vernon E. and Elsie Coleman Phillips. In addition to his parents, Bill is preceded in death by his brother, Joe Phillips.

Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His family moved to Pensacola when he was only two years old, so he always considered Pensacola his hometown. Bill graduated from PHS in the class of 1954. He received his BS from Florida State University in 1958. He served two years on active duty with the US Army and then served 5 years in the Army Reserves. Bill then went on to serve his community for 40years as the Professional Director of the YMCA. This was interrupted for two years while he served as Youth Director for First Baptist Church of Pensacola. Early in his YMCA career he served as a youth director, a Resident Camp Director and as a Branch Director. He went on to serve as the CEO of the Pensacola YMCA, then the Central Florida (Orlando) YMCA followed by the Seattle, WA YMCA and ended his career as CEO of the Houston, TX YMCA. He was an active member of Pensacola First Baptist Church, Pensacola Rotary Club, The Weatherford Chapter of the Association of YMCA Retirees and the Hendersonville, NC Country Club.

Bill Served on numerous boards and committees related to the YMCA, including the board of Trustees of the YMCA Retirement Fund, the Board of the YMCA of the USA, the Japan-US Bilateral Committee and the International Committee of the YMCA USA. He was very committed to his work and was even inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame in 2006.

Those left to cherish his memory include, his loving wife, of 63 years, Joann Keaton Phillips; a son, William V. "Phil" Phillips (Robin), of Pensacola; a daughter, Elyse Hopkins (Matthew), of Simpsonville, SC; very much-loved grandchildren, Allison Phillips, Joshua and Jacob Hopkins; a sister, Ann Sutherland; brother Jack Phillips (Judy), sister-in-law, Glenda Phillips, all of Pensacola. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

A visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 11:00am on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at First Baptist Church, Pensacola, with Mr. Peter Burmeister, Minister, officiating. A committal service will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.

The family requests in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to the Joann and Bill Phillips Endowment Fund of either YMCA location, Pensacola or the Houston, or to the Pensacola First Baptist Church.