Melvin Bernard Phillips, 95, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2021. Born in Bethlehem, the son of Jacob and Rose (Kohler) Phillips, he graduated from Liberty High School in 1943, Bucknell University in 1948, after serving in the US Navy in the Philippines for two years during World WarII.
Many will recall him at Phillips Music Store during his 32 years where he served his customers with a kind and gracious manner. He was a man of extreme integrity and treated everyone he met with respect - never saying an unkind word about anyone.
The most important person in his life was his soulmate, Elaine (Cohn), married for 70 loving years. He adored his children, Salli J. Phillips of Bethlehem, PA and Dr. Jeffrey H. Phillips and wife Joy, of Dallas, TX; his precious grandchildren, Hayley Phillips of Dallas, TX, Drs. Andrew and Sanjana Luther-Phillips of New York City, and Alex Phillips and his partner Andy Garden of W. Hollywood, CA. He is also survived by his siblings, Shirley Sonnenfeld and Ruth Besser (Dr. William). He has numerous nephews and nieces who loved his charming and kind soul, and above all, he was always a true gentleman.
He was loved and respected by all who ever met him, and he will be sorely missed.
Services: Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem. A memory tribute may be placed at www.cantelmifuneralhome.com.
Contributions in his memory can be sent to Congregation Brith Sholom of Bethlehem and Dream Come True.