Phillip Driskill

Benjamin Funeral Service - Nowata, Oklahoma - 918-273-2700.............................................. Phillip Lee Driskill (Retired) - Director, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Phillip was born on March 7, 1947, in Nowata, Oklahoma, to Carl and Margaret (Connor) Driskill. Phillip attended Nowata Public Schools and was proud of his Ironman roots. While in school, he met the love of his life, Glenda Epperson. After graduation in 1965, Phillip attended a year of college at NEO in Miami. During the summer of 1966, he worked for Sinclair and enrolled at Central State College in Edmond. Quickly discovering that Central State wasn't the place for him, Phillip made a decision that would set the course for the rest of his life. Phillip enlisted in the U.S. Army. On October 14, 1966, during the height of the Vietnam War, Phillip entered military service. He trained in Ft. Polk, Louisiana before joining the troops in Vietnam. He proudly served with the II Field Force during the Tet Offensive of 1968, a turning point in the war. Upon his return to Ft. Sill, he was promoted to sergeant and honorably discharged on August 20, 1969. Phillip re-enrolled at NEO, where he received his Associate of Arts degree in 1970. Shortly after graduation, he made the best decision of his life and proposed to Glenda Epperson, marrying on New Year's Day, 1972. Around the same time, Phillip began looking at the benefits that were available to him as a veteran and eventually started helping other struggling Vietnam veterans. On September 13, 1971 he made the easy transition from a sergeant role to a service officer role with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA). Initially, an important objective for Phillip was to make sure the many aging World War I and II veterans were established in the VA system and receiving the rights they were due. During these early years with the ODVA, Phillip went on to complete his undergraduate education at Northeastern State University with a degree in Sociology. In 1992, he earned his Nursing Home Administrator License from the University of Oklahoma. Phillip worked his way up the ranks with the ODVA, ultimately retiring as the Executive Director in 2008. From the ODVA headquarters in Oklahoma City, Phillip managed nearly 2000 employees that worked in claims and benefits or one of the seven long-term care facilities throughout the state. Phillip managed an operating budget of $120 million dollars all while working with the legislature to ensure programs and services were continually expanded to Oklahoma's 351,000 veterans. Phillip's lifelong objective was to make sure Oklahoma was recognized as second to none in providing care for veterans. Phillip was proud of his life memberships with The American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a past president of the National Association of State Veterans Homes, a member of the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Veterans Foundation, member of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Vietnam Veteran of America, NSU Alumni Association and Masonic Lodge #98. Through his life, Phillip received many awards, too numerous to list, however, a few he was most proud of were Vice President Al Gore's Hammer Award, NSU 2006 Alumnus of the Year, 2008 Americanism Award by the Air Force Sergeant's Association, and also in 2008, induction into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, where he received the Major General Douglas O. Dollar Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation in recognition of outstanding service to Oklahoma's veterans. Phillip truly enjoyed his life's work because he was devoted to caring for America's heroes, but he was first and foremost a wonderful husband and father - there was never a question his first priority was his wife and daughter. After retirement, Phillip began a new job - he became a Poppa, and his two grandsons were his greatest pleasures in life. Hardly a day would go by that he wouldn't find an excuse to see and spoil them. He taught them many lessons and also instilled a fair amount of orneriness. Phillip will certainly live on through his grandboys. Phillip is survived by his wife of 45 years, Glenda Driskill of Wagoner, his daughter Heather Driskill Griffin and son-in-law, JT Griffin of Coweta, and his two grandsons, Cole and Cade Griffin of Coweta. He is also survived by two brothers, Charles Driskill and wife Glenda Driskill of Bartlesville, and Steve Driskill and his wife Betty of Enid. Phillip is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Services will be held at the Wagoner Civic Center at 10:30am on Thursday, January 19th, 2017. Following services a full military burial will be held at the Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. After the military honors have concluded, the family would be honored to share stories and celebrate Phillip's life with anyone that would like to join them at the Wagoner Masonic Lodge. Arrangements have been entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Claremore Veterans Center - 3001 W. Blue Starr Drive, Claremore, Ok. 74017.

Visitation Details

Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 12:00pm - 7:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Wednesday, January 18th, 2017 9:00am - 7:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Thursday, January 19th, 2017 10:30am, Wagoner Civic Center

Interment Details

Ft. Gibson National Cemetery