David B. Phillips, health insurance worker, devoted church member

David B. Phillips, 75, of Pennsauken, wasn't just a member of the Martin Luther Chapel in Pennsauken.

His late parents, Ralph and Elsa, in the 1940s helped found the chapel, part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

"Church was one of the important passions of his life," daughter Karen Wright said.

"He was president of the congregation at one point," she said, and at other times its treasurer and Sunday school superintendent.

On Tuesday, April 29, Mr. Phillips, who retired in 2001 as manager of the shareholder services department at Cigna, the health insurance services firm, died of heart disease at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden.

Among his more significant roles at the church, his daughter said, Mr. Phillips "was usually involved in the Call Committee when there was a pastoral vacancy."

The committee, she said, "would interview candidates and make a decision for the church."

Born in Camden, Mr. Phillips was a 1956 graduate of Merchantville High School.

Mr. Phillips had a career of more than 40 years with Cigna and its predecessors, Insurance Co. of North America and INA Corp., he told a 2012 publication of the Merchantville Stamp Club.

He interrupted that career from 1961 to 1963, working with a helicopter utility squadron at Lakehurst (N.J.) Naval Air Station.

Mr. Phillips told the stamp club's bulletin that he had a special interest in stamps related to aviation and ships.

"He has a lot of aviation stamps," his daughter said, "and many books of stamps" of all sorts.

In 2013, she said, he organized a club trip to the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum in Washington.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Margaret; son Matthew; a brother; a sister; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Martin Luther Chapel, 4100 Terrace Ave., Pennsauken, N.J. 08109, with burial at Harleigh Cemetery, Camden.

Donations may be sent to the chapel at the above address.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.inglesbyfuneralhome.com.