Longtime local doctor Gerald Phillips passes away




Dr. Gerald Phillips

Dr. Gerald Phillips

The family and friends of Dr. Gerald Phillips, 87, are remembering the life of an Atascosa County native who gave so much to his community.

Born in Jourdanton on Jan. 20, 1935, he moved to Poteet during the summer of 1950 and graduated from high school in 1953. He earned his undergraduate degree from North Texas State University and in 1959 he earned his doctorate from Southwestern Medical School. He performed a one-year internship at Robert B. Green Hospital in San Antonio while living in Poteet.

Phillips was known for his strong work ethic. He milked cows at his parents’ dairy every day before and after school. He worked in the chemistry lab in college and worked part time all four years of medical school.

In 1954, he married his high school sweetheart Christell Myers. They were blessed with daughter, Susan and sons, Bruce and Jeff.

In 1979, he became interested in nutritional medicine and read a countless number of books, attended many seminars and became self-educated in alternative medicine. He opened a clinic, Genesis Health Center, and helped many patients with chelation and IV vitamin C. His most often given advice was “take a lot of vitamin C.”

Phillips was practicing medicine right up to the end of his life. While in the hospital, he asked for his patient’s chart so he could update it. The nurse brought him a clipboard and a sheet of paper. He scribbled away for several minutes before going back to sleep. He would give the hospice nurses several prescriptions he had written for his “patients” and tell her to take them to the pharmacist.

He was a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was always slipping the grandkids money. His last words to two of his grandsons were, “Do you need any money?”

His daughter Susan Phillips would like people to remember his kind and gentle spirit the most.

“He was a very caring person,” said Phillips. “His patients always came first and foremost. That’s the reason he was so involved in the community, because he wanted to make things better.”

“He wanted to be buried with his stethoscope and his bible because he loved God and he loved medicine,” said his widow, Chris Phillips.

Visitation will take place at Hurley Funeral Home in Pleasanton this Friday, May 13 from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services are Saturday, May 14 at Cowboy Fellowship in Jourdanton, with the family receiving friends from 1-2 p.m. For more details, see Phillips’ full obituary.

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