Dr. Thomas E. Phillippe, 89, former General Secretary of Extension and Evangelism for The Wesleyan Church, died on December 22, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Joan Phillippe, in March 2017.
Dr. Phillippe was elected General Secretary of Extension and Evangelism by the 1984 General Conference. He served until 1988. He also served the church as a pastor, general evangelist and philanthropist. In the latter role, along with his wife, he was a generous steward of resources for all five Wesleyan colleges and universities, Global Partners, World Hope International and many other charities.
He was a graduate of Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) with a major in religion and theology. He received an honorary doctorate from Indiana Wesleyan and founded Nationwide Care, Inc.
He is survived by his son, Thomas (Suzi) Phillippe, Jr., Aspen, Colo.; daughters, Stacy Phillippe, San Antonio, Tex., and Towana (David) Cranor, Fishers, Ind.; grandchildren, Thomas Phillippe, III, Jeremy (Amy) Phillippe, Tonya (Aaron) Hullett, Lauren Lanteigne, Lindsay (Mike) Siara, Lacey (Zack) Conner, Greg Mervine, Amanda (WB) Cavender, Trenten Mervine, and Christian Cranor; fourteen great-grandchildren, and a brother, Joseph Phillippe.
The family received visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at College Wesleyan Church, 200 E. 38th St., Marion, Indiana. Services to celebrate Thomas’ life followed after, with Dr. John Maxwell and Rev. Steve DeNeff officiating. Burial took place at Grant Memorial Park.
