Rollen Phillips, 96 years of age, died December 31, 2015, at Waterford in Ames. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way in Ames. A Masonic service follows at 6:00 p.m.
A celebration of life funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave, in Ames, with a private family graveside service following at the Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Rollen was born June 10, 1919, in Marathon, Iowa, to Wendell and Grace (Arnett) Phillips. He attended Shipley Consolidated High School and graduated in 1937. Rollen met Betty Russell, and the couple married on April 22, 1943 in Houston, Texas. He enlisted into the Air Corp flight school and received his wings as a Second Lieutenant. In 1944, he flew 50 missions over Europe as a B-24 pilot in World War II.
After returning from the war, he entered Iowa State University and started his family in Nevada. The couple moved to Ames in 1952. He chose the profession of an offset printer at Iowa State University where he worked for 35 years, retiring in 1984. After retirement, he and Betty enjoyed 55 bus trips throughout the United States, visiting every state except Alaska and Hawaii. Throughout their years together, Betty and Rollen also loved to vacation in Minnesota, where he spent time fishing with his family. Rollen was a member of the Arcadia Lodge AF & AM #249 of Ames for 50 years, VFW 2209 of Nevada, and First United Methodist Church in Ames.
Family was paramount to Rollen. He often said that he wasn't a millionaire, but he had a million dollars worth of family. He was especially fond of his grandchildren, sharing with them his most important values: God, Country, and Family.
Rollen is survived by his wife, Betty, children; Linda Lucente, Rhonda (Terry) Nederhoff, and Richard (Carol) Phillips, grandchildren; Michael Dennis, Merrily Guyer, David Moppin, William Dunkin III, Randall Dunkin, Diana Burkhalter, Kimberly Phillips, and Meredith Phillips.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Kay Dennis, in February of 2007.
Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Ames or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com