Charles W. Phillips, Sr., 79, resided for 53 years in Long Branch, New Jersey. Born in Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City in October 1945, ended his more that 6-year fight with cancer on January 7, 2025.
Surviving is his wife of almost 54 years Ann Youmans Phillips; his sister Betty Phillips Cardinale, of Woodbridge; his son Charles Phillips, Jr and his husband, Oscar of Lake Alfred, FL; his stepdaughter Kelly Creighton & her husband John, of Cream Ridge; his little dog Misty and many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces here in New Jersey, Florida and Georgia.
Charles was predeceased by his parents Charles Henry Phillips and Doris Cox Phillips; his sister, Helen Phillips Wagster and his brother John Phillips.
Charles was raised Catholic then his family changed to Episcopalian. Charlie served an altar boy. At 12 years old, Charlie moved to South Belmar to help his grandmother after his grandfather passed. Within a few years, his family moved there as well.
Charles graduated from Manasquan High School in 1964 and decided in 1997 to take the master plumber’s license test. He was a volunteer with the South Belmar First Aid & Fire Company, started his plumbing apprenticeship under Fred Tilton, Sr., worked for Shore Restaurant Equipment Co. and worked for almost 31 years for Bob Jensen Plumbing in Oceanport. Charlie started his own plumbing business Charles W. Phillips Plumbing and Heating in 1997 and ran it till he passed.
He enjoyed repairing rather than making customers pay for new, if not necessary. He was an honest, kind person; his customers appreciated his sincerity and cleaning up principles. He like to watch Reelz, the Mets & Yankees baseball games, football, old Westerns, and the Fox News channel. He enjoyed camping, being on a dart league, riding his motorcycle, traveling to the Caribbean, especially Antigua where he enjoyed the Islanders and friends made from other state and countries through his timeshare. He liked to travel exploring our country’s history around our eastern states and he enjoyed cruises. He also had vacationed to Bermuda, Canada, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, and enjoyed Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. He loved to sit and watch the Oceans, the Atlantic, Gulf & Caribbean or sit on the patio in Antigua and listen to the rain.
He will be greatly missed by his family, his little dog and all that knew this kind sincere man.
A celebration of Charlie’s life is in the planning for June 2025 for family, friends, and customers.