Charles R Phillips

Scotia - Charles Russell Phillips, son of Johnnie and Betty Phillips, entered into his eternal rest with the Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, surrounded by the love of his family at the of University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Charles was born on March 30, 1952. Besides his loving wife, Linda, of 42 years, he is survived by his two daughters, Dr. Jennifer Cremins (Bobby) and Christina Phillips and two dear grandsons, Risen and Xander Cremins. He is also survived by his mother, Betty Lou Phillips and his brothers, J.O. Phillips and Mike (Susan) Phillips; also, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dominick and Arlene Patierno and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Steven Patierno (Kim); he has a number of nieces and nephews and cousins; aunts and uncles. He is predeceased by his father, Johnnie Oscar Phillips, and sister-in-law, Yvonne (JO). As a young man, Charles came to the Saving Knowledge of the Grace of God at the early age of 9 yrs. old. In his youth, he served as Youth Fellowship President of his local church, Mt. Valley EUB. Charles also became an Order of the Arrow Eagle Scout. He attended Broadway High School graduating with honors and was the first Broadway High School recipient of the Vincent D. Reilly Memorial award. He played football and track & field for Broadway and in his senior year he was State Champion in the half mile. Charles served as Student Council President as well. Charles graduated Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA Magna Cum Laude in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. He played four different Div. 3 Sports there: football, indoor track, outdoor track, and cross county. Upon graduation, he held the school records in outdoor track in the 1 mile, 2 mile and 3 mile races. He served for 2 yrs. as President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was inducted into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Charles planned to go on for his PhD, but heard the call and voice of God at a two week symposium for Senior college students at Virginia Tech, saying, “You can go the way you are going, and I will bless you, but if you go my way, I will bless you evermore”. He chose the “evermore” blessing and proceeded on to Bible School for ministerial training at Pinecrest Bible Training Center, Salisbury Center, NY. It was at Bible School that Charles met Linda (Patierno) Phillips and was married on Aug. 22, 1976 in Schenectady, NY; moved back to his home area in VA for approximately one year and then returned back to New York in August 1977, making his home in neighboring Scotia, NY from 1979 until present. In 1978, Charles became employed by Knolls Atomic Power Lab for 40 yrs. during which time he held various positions: engineer/lead engineer with Radiological Controls, Manager of Radiological Monitoring Group, moved into IT and was Lead Programmer of the Service Help Desk, and then transferred into IT Project Management. He became a Certified Health Physicist while at Knolls. In addition to his secular employment, Charles was ordained to the Gospel Ministry of Christ through Pinecrest Bible Training Center in 1985. He completed his Bachelors of Theology with Zion Ministerial Institute (affiliated with Zion Christian University, Clearwater, FL) and was then ordained through Zion Fellowship Int’l in 2009. Charles was also given an Honorary Doctor of Letters in Theology from Florida Beacon College & Seminary, Jacksonville, FL in 2002. Charles was Senior Pastor of Living Waters Fellowship (Assembly and Ministries) from 1981–1991 and again from 2008–present. Together, he and his wife traveled domestically ministering in various places of the US and as well, as a Bible teacher and international speaker ministering in Churches, Bible Schools, Corporations, and various places in Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua), South America (Bolivia), Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines. Over the years, Charles served the Lord in various capacities as a Math and Chemistry teacher at a Christian High School, ministering Elder at two local churches, Assistant Pastor for a local assembly, and Dean of a local Bible School. A memorial service celebrating Charles’ life will be on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Bethel Full Gospel Church, 3625 Guilderland Ave., Schenectady, NY 12306, from 6–7:30pm. Visitation will precede the service from 4–6pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made on behalf of Charles to worldwide missionary organization, Zion Fellowship International, Box 70, 241 Glory Hill, Waverly, NY 14892.