Below is the obituary from my grandfather, Raymond Phillips’, funeral on June 26, 2009.

May we celebrate the lives of those who went before us, lived among us, served our country, and ultimately gave their lives for us. Thank you Raymond A. Phillips., aka., “Grandpa.”

SALEM — Raymond A. “Ray” Phillips, 84, of Salem, formerly of Ottumwa, Iowa, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at his residence.A funeral Mass for Ray Phillips will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2009, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Father Joseph Phung will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the Salem East Cemetery, Salem, Iowa. The family will be present to receive friends one hour prior to the mass at the church on Friday. Raymond Andrew Phillips was born March 31, 1925, in Rockford, Ill., the son of John Joseph and Catherine Agnes (Adcock) Phillips. He moved with his family to Ottumwa at a young age. He attended St. Patrick’s School. Ray was called to the service of his country during World War II. He entered the United States Army on Aug. 6, 1943, at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He was assigned as a medic with the 157th Infantry Medical Detachment. Ray was involved in the campaigns of Rome, Arno, Southern France and Rhineland. Ray received several commendations, including three bronze battle stars and the Purple Heart for the wounds he received on Sept. 7, 1944, in France. He was honorably discharged as a Tech 4 on Jan. 11, 1946, from Camp Grant, Ill. He returned to Ottumwa to complete his education. Ray graduated from Central High School in Ottumwa in 1946.On Nov. 21, 1947, at Sacred Heart Church in Ottumwa, Ray was united in marriage to Patricia Ann “Patty” Wrenn. Mrs. Phillips died Nov. 14, 2007, at their residence in Salem.For 20 years, Ray was employed as a salesman for Sieg Auto Parts in Ottumwa. He then took a sales position with Curtis Industries, which supplied keys and locks to businesses. Because of the career change, Ray and his family moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1967. Ray then accepted a position with the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, working on the Line 3A. Following his retirement from the Ordinance Plant, Ray and Patty moved to Salem.Ray was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Ray loved to camp at his trailer on the Skunk River.Those thankful for sharing in Ray’s life include two sons, John Phillips of Iowa City and Marty Phillips of Ft. Madison; two daughters, Teresa Phillips of Ogdensburg, N.Y., and Laura Roach of Salem; two brothers and their wives, Paul and Doris Phillips of Ottumwa and Robert and Lorene Phillips of Los Banos, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Mary Hollingsworth of Waterloo, Iowa; three grandsons, William “Billy” Roach, Stuart Phillips and Zachary Phillips. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a daughter in infancy, Mary Ann Phillips; and a brother, Pat Phillips.Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mount Pleasant.

http://www.legacy.com/Obituaries.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=128883632