David Phillips

David Harold Phillips, 94, of Accokeek, MD died at home of advanced kidney disease on September 23, 2024. He was born September 13, 1930 in Carroll, Iowa to Harold C. and Elsie B. Phillips as the middle child between two sisters, Paula B. Shaner (deceased) and Alice P. Loughry of Auburn, CA. His Family moved to Sacramento, CA in 1935. He had the largest paper delivery route in Sacramento and when he left, they cut it in half. He got his amateur radio license at age 17 and later upgraded to an Advanced license with call letters W3PJM.He graduated from McClatchey High in Sacramento in Feb. 1949 and immediately started attending University of Maryland majoring in chemistry and physics. He was awarded membership in Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honor Society) in 1950. He graduated from the U. of MD in Physics in Feb. 1954 and went to work at the Naval Research Lab first in Microwaves and Antennas, then on Space Surveillance installing transmitter and receiver sites across the southern United States and keeping them maintained. He designed and built the antenna and tested and chose the oscillator that flew on the Timation I satellite launched in 1967 – the forerunner of GPS (Global Positioning System). He then led a group of five of which one was his wife, Ruth, and they worked as a husband-wife team for 10 years in precision time and frequency.

He repaired the Lab’s Hydrogen Masers and established microwave links with the U.S. Naval Observatory. He was most proud to be the World’s Time Keeper with the Hydrogen Maser I for several weeks as requested by the U.S. Naval Observatory when they changed from using an earth rotation system to an atomic clock system. He later gave Hydrogen Maser I to the Smithsonian and Hydrogen Maser II to the Navy Yard museum. He retired in the Fall of 1982 after more than 30 years of Government service to become a caregiver for his Mother who had suffered a brain stem aneurysm. 

 He was a past president of Metrovision ATV (amateur television) and NRL Radio Club, receiving a Secretary of Navy Award for handling Health and Welfare traffic during the Johnstown Flood. He and Ruth square danced from 1967 to present and were past presidents of the Broadcreek Couples Club and the Southern Merry-Landers and presently managers of the Swinging’ Seniors. They started round dancing in 1996 and became licensed cuers in 2008 with Roundalab and RDTA.

 David joined the NRL Forum Toastmaster Club in 1964. He was the first NRL Toastmaster to become a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). He was area governor when Toastmasters International voted to permit women to join as members. His wife joined several years later in 1975.

 David was a longtime member of Davies Unitarian Universalist Congregation attending since 1955 and becoming a member in 1961. He and Ruth met in the College Park Center, now Paint Branch UU Church, in 1954 and were married by A. Powell Davies in All Souls Church Unitarian on June 18, 1955. David was Chair of Davies UU’s Endowment Committee for 42 years and Chair of the Memorial Committee for 35 years. He was a past President of the Board and served on the Board for many years. He sang in the Choir and participated in the March on Washington in 1963. Davies was an important part of life.

 He is survived by his beloved wife Ruth of 69 years, his oldest son David Charles Phillips (Cindy) of Ellicott City, MD, 4 grandsons John D., Charles W., Michael S. (Martha) and Kevin J. Phillips, step-grandchildren Sarah B. Dawson (John) and David Blaik and great-grandson David Sullivan Phillips, his sister Alice Loughry and brothers-in-law Edward Dawson and Frederick Dawson. He was predeceased by his sons Richard H. and Walter D. Phillips and sister Paula P. Shaner.

 A Celebration of Life Service will be held on October 26, 2024 at 2 pm at Davies Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 7400 Temple Hill Rd., Camp Springs, MD 20748. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Davies Unitarian Universalist Congregation or Habitat for Humanity.