Philip Fellows Obituary

Philip C. Fellows, 77, passed away on February 17, 2026, after a long illness. He was kept company at home by family, friends, and his beloved dog, Lily, where he was comfortable and at peace.

Phil was born on January 27, 1949, to Helen M. (Lundegaard) and Philip W. Fellows at the Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC. He had a fantastic childhood in New Jersey where his first love was his childhood dog, Heidi. His next loves were the goats he reared for the 4H Club. He cherished the unique personalities and the happy, carefree attitudes of his goats.

Phil spent his formative teen years in London, where his father was assigned by Eastern Airlines to develop an early version of the airline reservation system that travelers enjoy today. Phil earned his drivers' license in a standard transmission convertible 1949 MG driving on the left side of England's roads. He probably had a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth on his way home. He frequently took pride in chauffeuring his mom past Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, just for fun.

Phil went to school in England and Switzerland, then enrolled in higher education at Schiller College in Pennsylvania. Schiller offered an opportunity for Phil to study at Kleiningersheim Castle, near Stuttgart, Germany with a minor in Psychology and a major in Theater. Phil loved lounging on the castle lawn, soaking up the open air and sunshine while engaging in lively philosophical debates. An avid reader, his bookshelf boasted works by Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, and other renowned philosophers.

After graduation from college, Phil joined the United States Marine Corps. Upon completion of Officer's Candidate School, Phil chose Marine aviation as his path. He attended Radar Intercept Officer's (RIO) school where he was trained to be a RIO for an F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft. Upon receiving his wings, he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii with VMFA-235. While in VMFA-235, he was designated an Air Combat Tactics Instructor. This designation was a testament to Phil's ability as a RIO because that authority was usually given to more senior and experienced RIOs. Phil transferred stateside to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, where he joined VMFA-451. Phil left active duty in 1976 and joined VMFA-321, an F-4 reserve squadron, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He flew with VMFA-321 until 1985 when he left the squadron. Phil was a Major in the USMC Reserves.

Phil was successful in the telecommunications sales field and held leadership positions with Dictaphone, MCI, Quest Communications, and Verisign, where he was Senior Vice President of Sales for North and South America. While at MCI, Phil helped develop the first commercial email product, MCI Mail in 1983: a product well ahead of its time. Phil was a highly effective consultant and mentor who frequently helped young people in his communities build lucrative careers based on their personal interests.

Phil loved to travel. His stint in the Marines afforded him opportunities to live and travel in many places around the country, and later in life, he and his wife, Nancy, enjoyed frequent adventures around the world. Phil is survived by his wife of 18 years, Nancy (Mudd); his son, Jonathan (from a previous marriage to Dayna ((Smith)) Fellows) and daughter-in-law, Nina, both of whom cherished having Phil in their corner as a cheerleader in their respective careers; his granddaughters, Melina and Eliana, who knew him as Pip - a moniker first affectionately given to Phil in his childhood, after the Dickens character; his niece Zoë and nephew, Lief; and his sister, Kristin; and step-son, Brian Mudd. He is predeceased by his mother and father, and his sister, Karen. Phil will be missed tremendously by his communities of friends in Beaufort, SC and the DC Metro area.

Phil's Celebration of Life will be held at Village Social in Habersham on March 8, 2026, between 2:00-4:00. Please stop by and share a toast or a Phil story. The address for Village Social is 21A-1 Market Street, Beaufort, SC 29906. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots charity or your local hospice.

There will be another celebration of life at a later date in the Great Falls, Virginia area for those who are closer to Phil's former Vienna, Virginia community. Details are to be announced.