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- Gordon Charles Phillips passed away on February 7, 2012. He was born on April 21, 1921, in High River, Alberta, Canada to Charlie and Tena Phillips. His family moved to Valley, WA in 1929, where they lived on a self sufficient farm just outside of town. Growing up in Valley, Gordon loved to hunt, fish, go swimming at Wait's Lake, and race his horse, "Tarzan." Gordon attended school in Valley, where he lettered in Baseball and graduated as Class President. After high school, he worked at Northwest Magnasite Co. until he joined the United States Navy Reserves. He attended boot camp in Farragut, ID and trained as a Machinist's Mate at NTS San Diego, CA. During his time in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Gordon was stationed at Pearl Harbor, where he worked "muck-out duty" on the USS Oklahoma while she was in dry dock and also piloted LCMs at Midway Island. Gordon sailed aboard the USS Kishwaukee AOG-9, USS Gemini AP-75, USS John Land AP-167, and the USS Barnwell APA-132. The Barnwell was a Haskell-class attack transport, which ferried supplies and Marines throughout the Pacific Theater during WWII. Gordon was a "Plank Owner" on the Barnwell, which meant he commissioned and decommissioned the ship. During his time aboard the Barnwell, Gordon worked in the engine room, manning the throttle controls on the steam turbine and also loaded the 40mm anti-aircraft guns with racks of shells when the ship was under attack. Gordon and the Barnwell stopped in almost every corner of the South Pacific, including the Gilbert Islands, Mog Mog, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, where the Barnwell and crew survived a historically massive typhoon. Gordon also served as a member of the occupational forces in Japan after the end of the War. Gordon was honorably discharged in March of 1946, as a Machinist's Mate 2nd Class. After returning home, Gordon crossed between the U.S. and Canada quite often. Moving back and forth between the farm in Valley and family farms in Canada, Gordon's citizenship came into question. So, Gordon applied for and, on April 1, 1947, became a Naturalized U.S. Citizen. He carried his U.S. Dept. of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service's U.S. Citizen Identification Card on him until his death, proud to show any who asked he was indeed a citizen of the U.S. Gordon worked for J.P. Bell Trucking in Spokane, WA driving between Spokane and Little Rock, AR on a weekly basis. He also taught swimming lessons for the YMCA. After being married for a short time to Theresa Van Doran, in 1951 Gordon moved to Yakima, WA. While working for Seattle First National Bank at first in Yakima, then in Seattle, he met and married O. Maxine Wood in 1955. Shortly after their marriage, Gordon and Maxine moved to Chelan Falls and then Lake Chelan, WA. In 1967, they had a son, Charles "Casey" Noel Phillips. Gordon worked at the Chelan Falls power plant operated by Washington Water Power for a few years, and opted to stay on when WWP sold the plant to Chelan County PUD, as one of the earliest employees of CCPUD to work at that facility. Continuing to enjoy the outdoor life, Gordon fished, rode snowmobiles, and recreated throughout North Central Washington. Gordon also enjoyed flying. Having Charlie McAllister sign his flight certificate was a thrill for him, as Orville Wright had signed Charlie's. First owning a fully aerobatic American Champion Citabria "tail dragger" and then partnering up with good friend and fellow pilot, Dale Hawkins, on a Cessna 182 Skylane, Gordon flew every chance he could. After getting a divorce from Maxine, with whom he maintained a good friendship, he retired from the PUD after 32 years, as a Journeyman Hydro-Electric Operator. Enjoying feeding treats to all the dogs he encountered in River Walk Park and "bs-ing" with the gang at the Apple Cup, Gordon continued to live in South Chelan, surrounded by good neighbors and friends, until his death.
In 2011, Gordon and his son, Casey attended a special Memorial Day celebration in Barnwell, SC. As a plank owner of the USS Barnwell, Gordon was a personification of the ship and the only Barnwell Veteran able to attend the event. The family wishes to thank the hosts: Vietnam Veterans of America's Salkehatchie Chapter 828 and the entire community of Barnwell, SC for honoring Gordon at this Memorial Day event. It was a privilege for Gordon to represent the ship and her crew to the community for which she was named.
Preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Tena Phillips; five brothers, Ken Phillips of High River, Alberta; Keith Phillips of High River, Alberta; Lloyd Phillips of Champion, Alberta; twin brothers, Ronny and Donny Phillips, who passed away while still very young; and one sister, Hazel Kulzer of Valley, WA. He is survived by his son and daughter in-law, Casey and Linda Phillips of Entiat, WA; his sister in-law, Patricia Phillips of Calgary, Alberta; and his much loved nieces, nephews and extended family members, in both the U.S. and Canada.
The family would like to thank all of his friends and his neighbors, especially the Lagges and the Eickmeyers, for their kindness over the last few years. Thank you, Precht Rose Chapel, for your gracious assistance.
Gordon will be laid to rest at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA on Friday, March 23, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. This Service is open to all family and friends. Memorial donations, in Gordon's name, may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or your local Humane Society. Services have been entrusted to Precht Rose Chapel, Chelan.
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1921 - 2012 (90 years)
