PHOTO PROVIDED Lee and Maddie Phillips are shown in this photo taken in 1970.

One of the themes of Frank Capra’s 1946 film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” features what would the small town of Bedford Falls be without the life of the film’s main character, George Bailey, (Jimmy Stewart), a courageous, kind, husband, father and small businessman.

An angel, Clarence, shows George Bailey what life in Bedford Falls would be like without him. The town is less friendly, more tragic, increasingly selfish, dominated and manipulated by a greedy slum lord, Henry Potter, who manages to have the town’s name changed to Pottersville.

Eventually, George Bailey comes to realize his life of truth, kindness and faithfulness did make the Bedford Falls community and the lives of its citizens better, so too did the lives of Lee and Maddie Phillips make our community better.

Lee Phillips died in April 2020 leaving the Clinton County Community Foundation Inc. $3,233,717 and $359,300 to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Lee’s gift to the Clinton County Community Foundation Inc. increases the Phillps family’s perpetual endowment to a total of approximately $4.26 million and that fund perpetually administered by the Clinton County Community Foundation benefits the following local charities with annual distributions:

— St. Paul’s Lutheran Church along Route 64 in Porter Township, Clinton County.

— Woolrich Volunteer Fire Company.

— Dunnstown Fire Company.

— Salvation Army of Lock Haven.

–Clinton County SPCA.

— Annie Halenbake Ross Library.

— The Foundation’s General Fund with distributions to meet Clinton County’s unmet needs of a charitable nature.

A LIFE OF CARING

AND COMMITMENT

Lee Phillips grew up and spent most of his youth on a Porter Township dairy farm. Both Lee and his future wife, Madeleine Ubel, “Maddie,” graduated from local high schools. Coming of age during World War II, Lee found himself driving an American tank in the invasion and defeat of Nazi Germany. Lee returned from the Army and settled in his native Clinton County.

Maddie and Lee married in 1948 and remained a loving couple until her death in 2014. Lee found his life calling in the distribution of auto parts. He owned and managed an auto parts business from which he eventually retired.

Lee joined the Lock Haven Kiwanis the year I was born, 1957. As a fellow Kiwanian, I recall his genuine smile and firm handshake. Lee and Maddie were friends to many in Kiwanis and Clinton County. As Clarence the angel told George Bailey in the film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “No man is a failure who has friends.”

Yes, Lee and Maddie Phillips are passed but will always be remembered. Their cumulative gifts to the Clinton County Community Foundation Inc., now worth over $4.26 million, will endure and benefit charities close to our communities and Lee and Maddie’s hearts.

(Robert H. Lugg is executor of the estate of Lee R. Phillips report.)

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The Clinton County Community Foundation Inc. serves as a trust fund for citizens to endow endeavors benefiting local charitable purposes. Since 1968, competent and impartial management have assured the Foundation’s funds, now worth over $13 million, are conserved and productive distributions are made to the community. Find the Clinton County Community Foundation Inc. on the web at clintoncountyfoundation.org for more information.