Phil Block

Phil Block, Alaska resident since 1941, flew west on May 1, 2011.

There will be a celebration of Phil's life at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E. St. in Anchorage, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 5. On Friday, May 6, there will be a funeral Mass at 4 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Huffman Road.

Phil was born in Duluth, Minn., on Aug. 12, 1930. As Phil would say, "none of us gets out of this thing alive," and went to his "great reward" in peace and dignity, after fighting the good fight for several months.

Phil came north on the steamship Denali in December 1941, with his mother, Clara, during blackout conditions because of the Pearl Harbor invasion. He was 11 years old. He spent his first year in Alaska living in a wall tent by the airstrip in McGrath.

Phil became interested in flying as a young boy watching barnstormers in Minnesota, and his first airplane was an RC he won in a bet in McGrath. Flying and interest in all types of aircraft became a passion in McGrath, and got worse while growing up near the Park Strip in Anchorage.

Phil belonged to several pilot groups, including the Experimental Aircraft Association. Phil held private and commercial pilot licenses, had a glider rating, and was an A&P mechanic, and also IA (instructor authorized).

Phil started his working life selling the Anchorage Times on the corner he staked out by the 4th Avenue Theatre. His father Julian worked as a finish carpenter in several of the older buildings in Anchorage, including the pews and moldings in Holy Family Cathedral. Phil's mother retired as chief switchboard operator in Anchorage.

Phil graduated from Anchorage High in 1948, and was the high scorer for the Eagles' basketball team that year. The team was 16-1, with Phil playing forward and his boyhood friend Bob Pfiel playing center.

He owned and flew many different airplanes and served in the Air Force after completing basic training at Fort Richardson. Phil owned and operated Alaska Transport Sales in Anchorage, and was the Citabria dealer in Alaska for several years. His commercial career included A&P time with Pacific Northern Airlines, and flying for BLM, Cordova Airlines and Alaska Airlines. He flew for Alaska Airlines from 1958 to 1992, retiring after 34 years and more than 30,000 hours at the stick flying Connies, Hercules, 727s, and 737s.

If you were lucky enough to ride with Phil from Anchorage to Fairbanks on a clear day with no chop, you were treated to a rare view of Mount McKinley, up close and personal. He really enjoyed treating Alaska visitors to the "Arctic Bump" when crossing the Arctic Circle. Phil was the type of captain who ran a tight ship, and kept the schedule and passenger service at the top of the list. He married Barbara, the love of his life, in 1958 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cle Elum, Wash.

Phil was a devoted husband and father, and was as good a provider as a man can be. Phil was an independent man who did it his way, and always took off into the wind.

He is survived by Barbara, his bride of 52 years, daughters Paddy (Vince) and Teresa, son Robert (Beth), Paddy's children John, Katie, and Kristen, Teresa's sons, Connor and Garrett, Bob's daughters Sara and Kate, and Dutch the dog. Phil also has extended family in Minnesota, California, and Oregon. Pallbearers are son Bob, longtime loyal and close friend Bill Carlson, grandsons John, Connor and Garrett, and son-in-law Vince. A true character with character, Phil will be sorely missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.

Phil was preceded in death by his mother and father (Clara and Julian), and his son Phil.