Dr. Edward W. Phillips, Jr.

Dr. Edward W. "Pete" Phillips Jr., 86, of Lake Charles, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at St. Patrick's Hospital, in which he was also born. Pete was a 1946 graduate of Lake Charles High School, in 1946 attended McNeese State University School of Engineering on a basketball scholarship and in 1948 entered Tulane pre-med. He was accepted and began to study at Tulane Medical School in 1949, where he was a member of the A.O.A. Honor Medical Society. He graduated in 1953. Graduation led him to Philadelphia General Hospital, where he served his internship and experienced a life-changing event, "the single most important happening in my life" he would say, the meeting of an operating room nurse, Miss Anne Geise, who later became his wife. In 1954 he began his service in the United States Army in Korea and Okinawa. In October 1956, Pete entered residency at Tulane, finishing in August 1960. He returned to his hometown of Lake Charles to begin his practice with Dr. E.C. Campbell until retiring Jan. 1, 2000. He was a member of La. Orthopedic Society and in 1978 served as president. Pete enjoyed traveling with his family and friends. As demanding as his work often was, Pete always made time for fun and leisure activities with his family. During his younger years, he enjoyed building and flying model airplanes. As the kids grew older he became an avid offshore fisherman. Always the aviator, Pete flew ski kites, hang gliders, ultralight airplanes and ultimately built experimental aircraft and flew them around the country. Pete was a devoted husband and father. He leaves to honor his memory his loving wife of 60 years, Anne Geise Phillips of Lake Charles; four sons, Bobby Phillips and wife Machelle, Bill Phillips and wife Belinda, Eddy Phillips and Jimmy Phillips, all of Lake Charles; five granddaughters, Dr. Stacy Butler of Clear Lake, Texas; Sami Elder of Round Rock, Texas, Jillian Smith, Ally Jade Phillips and Claire Phillips, all of Lake Charles; two great-grandsons, Titus and Peyton Elder; special family member, John Agee, MD. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Walton Phillips Sr. and Marjorie Thomson Phillips, and one sister, Kathryn Phillips Washburn. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Father Jack Myers will officiate. Visitation of friends and family Tuesday will be at Hardtner Hall of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd from 12:30 p.m. until the start of service. Memorial donations may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Tend My Lambs Mission, 715 Kirkman St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 or CARC, www.carc.us. Pete's family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff of Unit 41 at Christus St. Patrick Hospital for their loving care and compassion during his illness.