Phillip was born February 20, 1942 in Denison, Texas, the son of John McClellan and Mavis Irene French. He left this life in the early morning hours of October 4, 2022 at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas.
Phillip grew up in Denison where he attended school and would go on to graduate in 1960. During his high school years, he enjoyed playing football as a Denison Yellow Jacket. His love for football, especially Yellow Jacket football, would stay with him for his entire life. On March 5, 1962 he began working at Johns Manville where he stayed for 26 years. Phillip was in the National Guard from 1964 – 1970. In 1977, he married the love of his life, Alice Robinson. Phillip and Alice made their home in Colbert, Okla., where they raised their daughter Kimberly.
Among his love for football, he had a passion for bird hunting including training bird dogs and attending field trials. Phillip had a joy for animals which included a love for bird dogs and greyhounds, and would care for any animal. Throughout his life, Phillip would travel to Montana, Nebraska, and Kansas to bird hunt. Later in life, he was able to share this passion with his grandson. Another joy that Phillip had in his life was his love of history. This love started at an early age and was something he enjoyed talking about with anyone he came into contact with. From the world of mafia to JFK to Project Blue Book, no subject was off limits for him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother (John French), nephew (James French), and one granddaughter (Jessica Hall).
He is survived by his wife of 45 years (Alice), sister-in-law (Phyllis French), daughter and son-in-law (Kimberly and Mike Delcambre), daughter (Sheri Spivey), grandson and granddaughter-in-law (Justin and Caitlin Hall) and two great-granddaughters (Olivia and Charlotte) and cousin (Sharon Gilbert and her husband Gary) in Washington State.
Arrangements under the direction of Cunningham Funeral Home.