Kenneth Lyman Phillips (86) of Colorado Springs, passed away on October 22, 2025, in his home. He was a strong and loving husband, father, son and brother and will be missed by all who knew him. He was born on March 8, 1939, in Carrier Mills, Illinois to Kenneth and Opal (Broyles) Phillips.
He grew up primarily in Southern Illinois and lettered in Basketball in high school. At 6’4”, it’s no wonder they had him on their championship team! He attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, where he was a liberal Arts / Psychology major.
Kenneth met Jo Ann Phillips in the Southern Illinois University’s marching symphonic band in Carbondale, Illinois; she on her snare drum and he on the clarinet. They were soon married on October 5, 1961, and started a family. He joined the Army in December 1961 and started off as a Psychotherapist-occupational therapy technician. Before joining the Army, he worked at St. Vincents Hospital in Normandy, MO. Kenneth served over 20 years in the Army retiring with a rank of CW3 and earned many awards and accommodations but asked that they not be listed here. He served in 97th General Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany; Fitsimmons Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas; Fort Ord in Monterrey, California, Evans Hospital in Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Baumholder Germany before retiring at Fort Carson as the chief PA. Kenneth also served in several duty assignments that took him away from his family, including the Vietnam War, REFORGER (Return of forces to Germany) and maneuvers at Fort Irwin, California.
Through the Army, he attended Baylor University and in 1976 received his AA – Physician’s Assistant (US Army Medical Corps). He continued his education and received a BS in Health Care Administration from Southern Illinois University in 1984 and an MBA from the University of Northern Colorado in 1990. Kenneth had a very long and successful career as a Physician’s Assistant. He was eager to be of service to people and genuinely enjoyed being able to make a difference in their lives. He also served as a Physician Assistant / Flight Physician Assistant MAST Medical Advisor at Ft. Carson, Colorado. Kenneth was the director of Emergency services for the 30th General Hospital in Baumholder Germany. He was the course director for Emergency Medical Technician program in Baumholder, Germany. Kenneth was also the Chief Physician’s Assistant for the 4th Infantry Division, Ft Carson, Colorado. After retiring from the military, he specialized in internal medicine – working 11 years as a civil servant at Evans Hospital at Fort Carson and an additional 15 years at Colorado Springs Health Partners. He was a co-founder of the Front Range Physicians Assistants Professional Organization. Kenneth sat on the Board for E.M.S.A.C. (Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado). He was Editor of EMS Magazine and contributed numerous articles to various medical journals. He was also an Associate Instructor in the Behavioral Science Department at Baylor University.
Kenneth and his wife travelled extensively and took numerous cruises. He was an amazing photographer and enjoyed creating photographic memories of his travels and his family. From 1968-1970 he worked as a photographer at Broyles Allenbaugh, Davis Advertising, Denver, Colorado. He was a Ham Radio Operator and was very active with the local ham radio association. Kenneth was also kind of a techy from way back. He was always interested in computers and electronics and had several good friends who shared this passion with him. Even back in the 1970’s, I can remember having a computer in the basement and while all my classmates were writing their school reports on typewriters – I had a PC to do mine on. I could even type in Bold and Italics! Pretty spiffy for the time! Kenneth had a very quirky sense of humor, and he loved puns and jokes. He was a master storyteller! His deep rich voice would draw you into a story, weave it around to keep you on the hook and then at the end – BAM! You would realize that he was just pulling your leg.
He leaves to mourn his death; their daughter, Tammy Phillips and husband, Steve Watkins; and their grandson, Thomas Watkins and his girlfriend, Brooke Alexander; and his many friends. He is preceded in death by his wife and parents; their son, Terry Phillips and wife, Jeannie; and his sister, Mary Jane Phillips.
Private arrangements have been made, and the family will enjoy a private service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice. He would want it to make a difference.
Goodbye Daddy.