Indian Island, Maine - Reuben "Butch" E. Phillips began his sacred walk on July 27, 2025, to join his beloved wife, Linda. He was born May 7, 1940, Indian Island, Maine, a son of Clifford L. Sr. and Beatrice (Francis) Phillips.

He was married to Linda Ann Stewart of Indian Island, who passed away Jan, 15, 2001. He and Linda started dating in summer 1956 and were married on May 28, 1960, and they were married for 40 years.

Butch enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 28, 1959, following graduation from Old Town High School, and was assigned to Fort Dix, NJ, for basic training followed by telephone systems training in Fort Gordon, GA. He then was assigned to Co. "A", 97th Signal Battalion, Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim Germany. June 1960-1962 and discharged at the Brooklyn, NY, Navy yard on June 18, 1962. Following his return from the service, he was hired by AT&T Co. Long Lines as an electronic technician at Andover, Maine, Telstar satellite tracking station. In 1966 transferred to Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, where AT&T built a telephone electronic switching system (ESS) to provide communications for the U.S. Air Defense facilities in Maine and Maritimes. AT&T closed the office in Oct, 1980 and he transferred to New England Tel & Tel Co. and retired from Verizon, Nov. 1 1991.

He joined the Dover-Foxcroft Jaycees as a charter member in March 1969. As an active member he held many offices: chapter president, state vice president, and U.S. Jaycee director and won many awards for his service. In 1976, presented with the "Jaycee International Senator" award, and was elected as Maine JCI Senate President 1976-1977. He held dearly all the fond memories of the wonderful times and activities with the Jaycees.

He was also active member of the Penobscot Indian Nation: Served as Lt. Governor; Tribal Representative to Maine State Legislature; first Chairman of the Tribal Fish & Game Committee; Chairman of Wabanaki Confederacy Conference; Tribal Dam Relicensing Committee; served as Director, Northeast Region, Native American Fish and Wildlife Association; Co-Chair of Penobscot River Ambassadors, Penobscot River Restoration Project, promoting Penobscot connection to the river. Conducted the Native ceremony at the dams removal; Appointed to the Tribal/State Workgroup to evaluate the Maine Indian Land Claims Act and make recommendations to the Legislature to improve the Act; Oct 2006 represented the Penobscot Nation in Caracas, Venezuela at an international festival featuring 27 different Indigenous Peoples of North and South Americas and was honored to meet President Hugo Chavez. Butch conducted many traditional ceremonies, including the historic removal of the Great Works and Veazie dams and the opening ceremonies for the National White Water Canoe Championships held in Old Town. In 2002 participated with tribal members to build the first birch bark canoe on Indian Island in sixty years. In 2003 he built his own 14 foot bark canoe, and in 2015, along with sons, Anthony and Scott, and great-grandson, Beckett, we built an 18 foot birch bark canoe. He ran and paddled Katahdin 100 for many years. He ran with a Penobscot relay team from Indian Island to Montreal, Sept. 1991 to join up with Sacred Run running across Canada. He ran 50 miles to celebrate his 50th birthday from Mattamiscontis camp to Indian Island, 1990. Carried torch from UMO to Indian Island during Tekakwitha Conference 1992. Ran with relay team from Indian Island to Norridgewock many times. In December 2001, he had the great honor of carrying the Olympic torch (Salt Lake Winter Games) in Hanover, NH. He dedicated this to the memory of his wife, Linda, who passed away earlier that year.

He and Linda enjoyed traveling and exploring. They traveled in Europe to celebrate their 25th anniversary. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, they took a sea cruise from Vancouver, BC, to Alaska.

He is survived by sons, Anthony Phillips and wife, Kelly, Scott Phillips and wife, Lana, and Mark Phillips and wife, Cathy; grandchildren, Megan Phillips Taylor and husband, Ryan, Chad Phillips and wife, Allison, Schuyler Phillips, Spencer Phillips, and Sage Phillips and her significant other, Joseph Pettinelli; great-grandchildren, Beckett, Piper, Finley, and Maxwell Taylor, Colin, Anna, and Abigail Phillips; siblings, Chester Dana, Guy E. Phillips, Cheryl Francis, and Gayle McCarthy; special friends, Anne and Lee Desmond; special brother-in-law, Jim McCarthy; extended family; members of the ROP at Mattamiscontis and camp Wind'lblow at Matagamon; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by siblings, Lorraine Dana, Neil Phillips, Cliff Phillips, and Donna Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of Butch may be made to Team Penobscot c/o John Neptune, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME 04468. A service to celebrate the life of Butch Phillips will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Sockalexis Arena, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island. A brief time of visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at Tribal Cemetery, Indian Island, with a potluck meal after at Sockalexis Arena.