Robert F. Phipps, RIP

[The Interpreter]

July 7, 2010


Robert F. Phipps


Littleton & Rue Funeral Home The Independent

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Robert F. Phipps, 80, of Springfield, Ohio, passed away
Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at his residence after a long illness.

He was born Feb. 25, 1930, in Ironton, Ohio, the son of the late Robert
Franklin and Grace (Williams) Phipps.

He was a 1948 graduate of Russell High School, where he starred in football,
basketball and baseball. He was a guard on the 1947 Kentucky state runner-up
basketball team, played football at Eastern Kentucky University and had a
tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bob began his 40-year career in radio and television at WIRO in Ironton in
1953. Through the 1960s, he was a familiar voice to Springfield area
teenagers who listened weekday afternoons to his "Top 40 Hits" show on WIZE.
Bob also provided color commentary for both high school and Wittenberg
football and basketball broadcasts. When Channel 26 TV opened in Springfield
in 1968, he served as the news and sports editor and broadcaster. Bob
concluded his career as an account representative with Continental Cable
Television in 1994.

In his spare time, he loved to root for his beloved UK Wildcats, Cincinnati
Reds and Cleveland Browns and to read and research history (especially World
War II). However, Bob's preferred activity was spending time with his large
family.

He is survived by Bonnie (Potter), his wife of 60 years; his children,
Marsha (Gary) Jenkins of South Charleston, Ohio, Cheryl (Jack) Dalie of
Springfield, Anthony Phipps of Clearwater, Fla., James (Terri) Phipps of
Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Nancy Summers of Springfield; 12 grandchildren; 11
great-grandchildren; and a good friend, Greg Bachman.

Services to honor Bob's life will be at 1 p.m. Friday, July 9, 2010, at
Littleton & Rue Funeral Home in Springfield, with Pastor David Yingling of
St. Mark's United Methodist Church presiding. Burial will be in Ferncliff
Cemetery.

Friends may call after 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the
Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation at www.mds-foundation.org.

Condolences may be sent to www.littletonandrue.com.

http://dailyindependent.com/obituaries/ ... t-F-Phipps