The husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and dear friend passed away on Saturday, March 15.

His life was celebrated at a service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dubbo, on Saturday, March 21, followed by interment in the Western Districts Memorial Park.

Born Clement William Phillips on October 6th, 1918, Bill was one of six children to parents Clem and Mary.

Bill spent his early years on Aberfield farm on Collie Road, before the family moved into Dubbo in 1921.

The family later bought Werfils Orange Orchard, on Fitzroy Street, which is now Dubbo South Primary School.

Bill attended Dubbo Central School, Dubbo High and Walaroi College, and was known to sleep through many a lesson.

Even during his teenage years he was a gentleman, escorting sister Essie to school each day, walking beside her horse.

Bill was a jack-of-all-trades, starting his early working life as a farmhand, including on the family farm before school each day.

He also worked as a grocer, bullock driver, chief burr cutter, and telephone mechanic. He worked briefly at PMG Engineers Department in Dubbo, moving to their Bathurst office for a short time before joining the Australian Armed Forces at the outbreak of World War II.

Bill served with the 54th Battalion Signals Dept., Intelligence Security Unit and later the Medical Supply Division, serving at Cairns, Thursday Island, Moratai (Moluccas), and Balikpapan (Borneo).

Bill met his late wife, Millie, at the age of 20, at a dance in Bathurst.

Ever the gentleman, Bill was always somewhat coy when it came to the details of their romance.

The two courted while Bill served at the army medical store in Sydney, commuting to Bathurst to visit Millie on most weekends, before the couple married in Bathurst in 1942.

The pair moved to Dubbo following Bill's discharge from the army in 1945, and had their first daughter, Patricia, in August the same year.

Patricia was followed by Lynette, Ian, Garry and Cindy, and Bill and Millie proved to be wonderful parents.

"We have all been fortunate to have had such wonderful parental role models who have enriched and touched our lives deeply," Lynette said.

Following the war, Bill followed in his father's footsteps.

He entered the family business, Clem Phillips Real Estate, eventually buying it out when his parents moved to Banora Point. In his eulogy, Bill's family and friends remembered his integrity, firm values and commitment to family and community.

"In his business life, he was a model of integrity and purpose, rightly gaining and keeping the respect of all who did business with him."

Bill was also a longstanding, well-known and well-loved member of the community, volunteering with Dubbo Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, the Neighbourhood Watch and Dubbo Rotary Club.

He was extensively involved in cricket, playing consistently from the age of seven, right up until his retirement at age 57, and serving in many administrative roles, including as secretary of the Dubbo cricket club for more than 30 years.

Bill passed his passion for cricket on to son Ian, and daughter Lynette said his parting words to her were "I've had a great innings, dear".

Bill took up golf at age 40, and it quickly became an important part of his life.

He served as the president of Dubbo Golf Club for nine years, where he used to say he "always seemed to inherit the job when things got rough".

Bill also served with Dubbo Rotary Club, which he joined in 1952, and was an active member right up until he moved to Maroochydore about one year ago.

In 2012, Bill was acknowledged for his outstanding commitment when he received the Community Service Award, which came as a surprise to him.

"I grew up loving to volunteer," he told the Daily Liberal at the time.

Special thanks had to go to Trish and Wally, who cared for Bill in his final years, the family said.

Bill will be remembered as a "quiet achiever", the "strong resolute, inspirational and loving father", and an "anchor of strength and gentle manhood, making his contributions by quiet example and humour".

"As an individual, the great human quality of forgiveness came completely naturally to him, as did the gift of never using more words than were needed. He was a gentleman, in the truest sense of the word."

"In this way, he made a family that is close, compassionate and honest, and no man can do anything more valuable in his time on earth."