Joseph Roger Phillips

Roger Phillips, beloved father, husband and friend to many, passed away of natural causes in Ft. Myers, Florida on July 27, 2026, at the age of 85.

Roger was born on July 1, 1941, to a coal mining family in Glen Fork, Wyoming County, West Virginia. Roger was the eldest son of Seth Phillips and Gladys Acord Phillips. A 1960 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, West Virginia, Roger worked his way through college as a coal miner. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Concord College, Athens, West Virginia, in 1964, and later a master's degree from Radford University, Virginia.

Roger married his childhood sweetheart, Alma Lillian Payne, in August 1959. The marriage of 40 years ended with Alma's untimely death in 1999. Roger and Alma had two daughters, Victoria and Leslie.

Roger was a lifelong educator committed to the betterment of children. He began his career in education in 1966 as the principal of Anthony Creek Elementary School, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. He was an award-winning high school teacher and legendary football coach, known for his mentorship of young men.

In 1972, at Cave Spring Junior High School, he established the first junior high school football program in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia. The school won every game his teams played for the first six years of his tenure.

In 1979, Roger returned to Alleghany County High School, Covington, Virginia, where he had begun his career in athletics in 1969. He took the Alleghany Colts to post-season play every season he was there from 1979 to 1985.

Roger was also a proud 32d degree Mason and Vice President of the Lewisburg Jaycees.

Roger continued his coaching successes when he moved to Florida by first revamping the football program at Cape Coral High School, and then co-establishing the first football team at the then-new Mariner High School. He led the team defense to great success over many years on the gridiron.

However, Roger considered his greatest successes to be off the field. He mentored disadvantaged young men and helped many enter higher education. He also established and managed Mariner's English language program for speakers of different languages. His love of education inspired many in his family to enter the field.

Roger met, and later married, his treasured colleague at Mariner High School and love of his life, Puchy Franco-Phillips. Through that union, he became a cherished member of the Franco family, which includes his dear mother-in-law Miriam Mesa Franco, his late father-in-law Adolfo Franco, his brother-in-law Adolfo A. Franco, sister-in-law Elena M. Franco, and brother-in-law Rick Holtsclaw.

Mr. Phillips is survived by his loving wife, Puchy, his eldest daughter, Victoria, and his granddaughter Virginia Barger. He was preceded in death by both parents, his beloved first wife Alma, his sister Patricia, and his youngest daughter, Leslie.