James W. McPhillips of Hatboro died on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at Arden Courts at Warminster with his family by his side. He was 85.

He was the loving husband of 59 years to Helene Ryan McPhillips.

Born in Ocean City, NJ, he was a son of the late James W. and Alice Russell McPhillips and father of the late Nancy Bradley.

For over 30 years, Jim McPhillips served as the Chief Engineer and Surveyor for the City of Philadelphia. As part of his role he was a Commissioner of Fairmount Park. McPhillips oversaw aspects of the development of many of the bridges, streets and highways in the city, including I-95 through the City, the Betsy Ross Bridge, The South Philadelphia Stadium area, The Columbia Avenue Bridge, Island Avenue, and numerous streets, highways and improvements too numerous to count. He later joined Urban Engineers in Philadelphia where projects included the Vine Street Expressway, and The Avenue of The Arts. He was a lifetime enthusiast of classical music and opera, consumed books at a breakneck pace, he had a particular fondness for Hemingway, and W. Somerset Maugham. He served for years as a member of the Philadelphia Archdiocese Cemetery Committee, and was on advisory Boards including Drexel University and Holy Family University.

In addition to his beloved wife Helene, James is survived by his children; Helene M. Dunn and her husband Gerard of Warminster, Kevin S. McPhillips and his wife Marian Mallon of Havertown, Jeanne M. D’Amore and her husband Nicola of Collegeville, Noelle M. Lenhart of San Diego, CA and James P. McPhillips of Doylestown. He is also survived by his son-in-law Thomas Bradley of Mullica Hill, NJ, his brother Richard McPhillips of Brigantine, NJ, his sisters Rosalie Patty of Bensalem, PA and Alyce Rosado of New Jersey, and his ten grandchildren Sean and Kara McPhillips, Colleen, Gerald, Timothy and Kerri Dunn, Caterina and Dominique D’ Amore and Liam and Thomas Bradley and his great granddaughter Faye McPhillips.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing from 9: 30am until his Funeral Mass 10:30am on Tuesday, December 10th in Nativity of Our Lord Church, 605 West Street Rd., Warminster, PA 18974. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601.