Walter Phillips Obituary

Phillips, Walter R. born July 7, 1925, in Portsmouth, Ohio, died in Naples, Fla., March 27 at the age of 82. A former Chicago WGN radio personality, Phillips will be deeply missed by his loving wife Barbara and children Holly Phillips, Todd (Janice) Phillips and Jennifer (Nicholas) Tzitzon. With more than 45 years on the radio, Phillips started at WGN in 1956 and for many years secured the largest audience in the Chicago area. Phillips created the Neediest Kid's Fund in 1969, which since then has raised more than $35 million dollars to help needy families. He was inducted into the Chicago Radio Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Association of Broadcaster's Radio Hall of Fame in 1997. He retired from WGN radio in 1998 and worked for WAIT-AM in Crystal Lake, IL, for several years thereafter. A memorial service will be held in his honor at 3:00 p.m. May 16 at Linn Presbyterian Church, W3335 Willow Road, Lake Geneva, WI. In lieu of flowers, donations to WGN Radio Neediest Kids Fund, c/o WGN Radio, 435 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611; the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or www.alz.org; or The Museum of Broadcast Communications, 400 North State Street, Suite 240, Chicago, IL, 60610 are greatly appreciated.