Lawrence Brevard Phillips was born on December 7, 1914, to James Kenneth and Mary Hoffman Brevard Phillips. He was the middle of three sons. His mother died shortly after the birth of his younger brother. While his father traveled as a salesman in the northwest United States and Canada, the older sons went to boarding schools. Then the family settled in Seattle, Washington. Larry tells that he and his brothers loved life along the water in the Seattle area. When his father died Larry lost contact with both brothers.

Larry has lived in Washington, California, Nevada, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He worked for the Woolworth Company in Reno, NV and San Francisco, CA before transferring to the East Coast. In 1949 he left Woolworth. He opened Phillips 5 &10 at 310 North Market Street in Frederick, MD. In 1960, he sold his store and was rehired by Woolworth, working in Harrisburg, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Carlisle, PA. In 1967, he became an insurance sales representative for the Paul Revere Insurance Company where he completed all of the Life Underwriting Training Courses and then taught the courses to others.

Larry and his first wife, Carolyn Hahn moved to the East Coast to be closer to Carolyn's family. They had twin daughters, Sherry and Terry. In 1963, Larry married his second wife, Anna Virginia Spahr Coldren, who had two daughters, Cinda and Cheryl.

In Maryland, Larry enjoyed spending weekends and vacations on the water. In the 1950's, he owned several boats. He kept up with news and sports on television, read newspapers and magazines, enjoyed card games, dancing, and socializing with friends. In Frederick, he sang in the Evangelical United Church choir and their barbershop quartet. He liked gadgets, was quick to understand how things are constructed and was able to repair and build things.

When Larry settled in Pennsylvania, he joined the Masons, attaining the 32nd degree, and the West Shore Elks. In the Elks he served for 10 years on the board for Cerebral Palsy services and was named Elk of the Year in 1970 for his work on a number of committees. He was an active resident, while living at Westwood Village and Brighton Place, serving on the board of directors for both. In 2002, Larry moved to Country Meadows and later The Bridges, independent living facilities in Mechanicsburg, PA. In August 2010, he moved to Heartlands and later Household of Angels, assisted living facilities in Severna Park, MD.

Larry loved people and always had time to talk with old friends and make new ones. He treated everyone with respect and offered assistance whenever needed. He was well organized, became immediately involved in projects and completed them in a timely manner before moving on to something new. He often used alternative methods to complete a job. He was confident in his own ideas and abilities, never worried about appearances, and accepted people as they were.