HAMPTON - Jesse Lee Phillips Sr. died Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at Riverside Hospital.

Jesse was born June 14, 1921, in Warwick County, Va., now Newport News. As a boy, Jesse lived on his family's dairy farm on the James River, where he loved to fish and sail the river. He graduated from Newport News High School in 1939. He served honorably in the Virginia National Guard while attending the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprentice School. In 1944, he joined the Marine Corps and served as a radar technician in the Night Fighter Squadron serving in China.

Jesse owned and operated the first aluminum siding company in Newport News from 1956 to 1961. In 1962, he relocated his family to Houston, Texas, where he worked as a mechanical draftsman for NASA. During his career with NASA, he was instrumental in shaping the designs for the Gemini and Apollo space missions. Jesse retired from NASA in 1979. After retirement, he worked for several private companies in Houston until 1992. During his post retirement career, he helped to design the Wake Shield Facility, which was flown on the Shuttle at least three times. Jesse was very proud of his contributions to the space program.

Jesse was preceded in rest by his wife of 41 years, Marie Campbell Phillips; brothers, Warren and Tommy Phillips, and Danny Morgan; and ex-wife, Ruby Berka (mother of his children).

Jesse is survived by his son, Lee Phillips; his daughters, Kathy Hurlock and husband, Allen, Patte Wajciechowski and husband, Wayne; his grandchildren, Kelli West and husband, Tim, Nikki Galindo and husband, Dave, Justin Phillips, Sarah, Michelle, and Allen (A.J.) Hurlock, and Madison Wooten; three great-grandchildren; his sister, Jean Burdick; his brother, James Morgan and wife, Carolyn; his sister-in-law, Smokey Phillips; and very special nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Northampton Convalescent Center and Dr. Sarah Bushey, for the excellent care they gave our father during the latter part of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either the Parkinson's Disease Foundation or the Hampton Fire and Rescue.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at Parklawn Memorial Park. The family will receive family and friends at 301 North Keith Road, in Hampton, immediately following the burial.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com  to share memories and words of condolence with the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, 23666. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in the Daily Press from March 14 to March 15, 2010.
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