Melvin "Mel" James Phillips

Mr. Melvin ‘Mel’ James Phillips, age 76, of Kentwood, Michigan, passed away at his apartment early in the morning on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  He succumbed to the illnesses that he had suffered with for many years: asthma, diabetes, and HBP.  He retired in 2009.  He spent his days doing his hobbies and hanging out with me, his brother, and some friends, especially Al M. and Zada K.

A native of Massachusetts, our family traveled in the Air Force to Hawaii and California where Mel spent most of his life.  He graduated from Chabot Community College in Hayward, California, in 1969, with an AA in Drafting Tech. Mel became an accomplished drafting engineer with years at Apple Computer, Tandem, Compac Computer, and a few others in the Silicon Valley while he lived in California most of his life. He was a master of Unigraphics CAD which he used as a plastics specialist creating parts and surfaces. He owns several patents that he got with those companies during his career. He was a job shopper, a ‘Contractor’, moving around often when contracts ended. Finally, he came to Michigan in 2003 to work with Smith’s Aerospace, now GE, designing parts for the aerospace industry.  After 5 years there, Smith’s downsized when sold to GE.  Mel retired shortly after that at 61 years old.  I came out to Kentwood in 2006 to join my brother when I retired from California. We were best friends and buddies since then. I will miss him greatly.

Mel’s passion was with his hobbies.  He was a life long RC radio control modeler and flyer. He flew with his Modeler’s Club friends wherever his resided. He built and flew model aircraft all his life until the last few years when his illnesses prevented him. He spent most of his last few years on his computer web surfing and spending quiet time. He was a kind, selfless man living his retirement in quiet peace with the world. His pride and joy was his 1998 Camaro Z-28 that he drove for 25 years.

Mel is survived by me, his brother; one sister; many nephews and nieces; and grand nephews and nieces across the country.  Mel was cremated on Friday, April 19,2024.  His ashes were given to his brother Al.

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