HERKIMER - Leslie V. Phillips Sr., 77, of Lansing Street, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 3, 2003, in Faxton Hospital, Utica. He was born March 15, 1925, in the town of Schuyler, son of the late Robert Henry and Nellie May Parks Phillips. A lifelong area resident, he was educated in Frankfort schools. On July 8, 1943, he answered the call of his country by joining the U.S. Army. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy and the Rhineland. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, American Service Medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged Dec. 29, 1945. On Dec. 20, 1947, he married Kathleen Baylor in Herkimer, a loving and devoted union of 32 years, until her passing on Jan. 27, 1970. For 22 years he worked as a machine specialist for the Remington Arms Company, retiring in 1985. He was a life member of American Legion Post 38, Herkimer, Michael S. Pliseck VFW Post 4915, Herkimer and AMVETS Post 777, Ilion. He had a strong love for the outdoors and nature. In his leisure time he was an avid hunter and fisherman. Les was a friend to many and will never be forgotten. Surviving him are three sons, Leslie V. Phillips Jr. and his wife Jodi of Ilion, Gary E. and his wife Betty Jean Phillips of Richfield Springs and Timothy J. Phillips of Eureka, Calif.; five daughters, Dawn M. and her husband Bill Deyle of Ilion, Patti and her husband Thomas Rich of Little Falls, Cindy and her husband Kevin McCaffery of Fulton, Sandy "Sas" and her husband Richard Butters of Jamestown, N.C. and Kathleen "Trina" Hardy of Ballston Spa; 22 grandchildren, Keith, Codee, Justin and Luke Phillips, John Herman Phillips, Candace Lynn Springer, Sundharia H. and Mycena A. Phillips, Thomas A. Foster Jr., Kathleen C. and Billy H. Deyle, Kim Darling, Alan Darling and his wife Paula, Carolyn Rich, Phillip Robert McCaffery, Lisa Marie McCaffery, Adam and Darcee Collins, and Chad A., Ami L., Michael P. and Matthew S. Hardy; and seven great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Earl and Harold Phillips and his faithful Britney spaniel, "Brit," who died this past November. Funeral service will be on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer. The Rev. Donald L. Dixon, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Little Falls, will officiate. Mr. Phillips will be laid to rest in Mohawk Cemetery later this spring. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America, General Herkimer Chapter 162. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Critical Care and fourth floor staff of Faxton Hospital for their care and compassion during Leslie's stay. Members of the Michael S. Pliseck, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4915 are asked to meet at the funeral home at 6:45 p.m. on Monday evening for services. Members of American Legion Post 38, Herkimer, are asked to meet at the funeral home at 7 p.m. Monday for services.