Phillip Lee Zellers

Phillip Lee Zellers, 82, of New Bern, North Carolina went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Phillip was born on September 19, 1941 in Logansport, Indiana to Murlen Earl Zellers and Esther Louise Gorseline Zellers.

His fondest childhood memories are growing up on a county farm, attending country grade school Reiter and having close highschool friends. His earliest ambition was to be a baseball broadcaster and was elated to see the Cubs eventually win the World Series.

He graduated from Purdue with a degree in Agricultural Economics, where he also fueled his love of basketball. After tending to the family farm, Phil became a statistician and served the US Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) for 33 years, including being a Division Director for 16 years.

Phil was a devoted father and grandfather. He loved seeing his grandchildren having fun together. His proudest family moment is seeing all three children do well in their careers.

Phil loved to golf and play bridge. Phil was also a devoted Lions Club member, having received the honorable Melvin Jones Fellow award, for dedicated humanitarian services.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 53 years Judith Anderson Zellers, daughters Christine Zellers and Deborah Zellers Walker, and son Jeffrey Murlen Zellers and daughter-in-law Lisa Zellers; grandchildren Andrew Walker, Makenna Zellers, Cooper Zellers, Cameron Zellers-Selby and Cora Zellers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lions Club International Foundation, Twin Rivers Lions Club, 2001 Williamson Dr., New Bern, NC 28562.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, January 29, 2024 at Garber Methodist Church, 4201 Country Club Rd, New Bern, NC 28562 at 2:00 PM. He will be laid to rest following the service. Loved ones are welcome to gather afterward from 3:30 to 5:30, location to be announced at the service. Online condolences can be made to www.cottenfuneralhome.com. Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Phillip Zellers.