With family by his side, Lionel Phillips passed away peacefully in his 99th year on Sunday evening November 30th, 2025. He was the youngest child of Rupert and Georgie (Glover) Phillips and brother to Ena (Wilf Cunnington), Jack (Hilda), and Ross (Marjorie). The family attended the nearby Swanwick Ave Gospel Hall.

He was a loving and devoted husband for 68 years to Catherine (nee John) and a wonderful father to Paul (Karen), John (Esther), Lynelle (Jim Clarke), and Mark (Heather). He was grandfather to Erin (Wes Gillespie), Jennifer (Stephen Jobbitt), Andrew (Nicola), David (Dana), Vianna (David Zekveld), Scott (engaged to Alexandria Mottley), Brian (Rebekah), and Laura Phillips. He was the proud great-grandfather of Ronan and Isla Gillespie, Caleb and Emily Jobbitt, Rae, Peter and Juliana Phillips, Isaac, Annika, Madelyn Zekveld, and Oliver Phillips. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews.

Lionel was raised in Toronto except for Grade 8 when he lived on a farm near Erin, Ontario. He had many happy memories of attending a one-room schoolhouse on a country road. The family moved back to Toronto and he attended Oakwood Collegiate and then the University of Toronto. He graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry in 1950 and practiced general dentistry in midtown Toronto for thirty-five years.

Dad had a strong Christian faith and served for many years as an elder at Danforth Ave Gospel Hall and also as a director at Bethany Lodge in Unionville. He was a friend to many and will be greatly missed, but we look forward to seeing him again in Glory. Absent from the body, present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Special thanks to the Health Care Team at Sunnybrook Hospital for their superb care.

Funeral service to be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery Funeral Center on Monday December 15th at 11am. 375 Mount Pleasant Rd. East gate entrance. Visitation one hour prior to the service.
If desired, donations may be made to Bethany Lodge Unionville or to Missionary Service Committee.