Philip E. Anderson

1937 - 2022

XENIA — Philip E. Anderson, 84, of Xenia, passed away peacefully Friday, April 29, 2022, at Kettering Medical Center surrounded by his family. He was born June 23, 1937, in Xenia, Ohio, the son of Clarence E. and Betty McPherson Anderson. He was a 1955 graduate of Xenia Central High School, a 1959 graduate of Wilmington College, and earned his Master's Degree in School Administration from Xavier University. He taught Health and Physical Education for 33 years, teaching roughly 10,000 students and was a basketball and baseball coach for 37 years in the Xenia Schools. For two years he was assistant principal of Xenia Central Jr. High School. Over the years he and his teams earned many league and district titles. Phil was the WOL Basketball Coach of the Year (1982, 83, and 86), was named to the Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (1992) and was honored as the Ohio Basketball Coach of the Year in 1992 after returning from the previous winter when Xenia athletics were canceled. Throughout his career he coached over 1,400 games. He was inducted into the 2002 Xenia Community Schools Hall of Honor. Even though he influenced so many young men and women during his career, Phil was most proud of his family. He enjoyed traveling around the country with his family showing his father's collection of vintage sprint cars. He attended the Indianapolis 500 for 68 consecutive years with family and friends. He enjoyed traveling to Disney World with his family and friends, and had been every year since the parks opened in 1971. His hobby was playing golf with his family at Locust Hills Golf Course. He is survived by his high school sweetheart, wife Elaine (Eckerle) Anderson, whom he married June 8, 1957, two sons, Kirk (Diane) Anderson, Xenia, and Kent (LuAnn) Anderson, grandchildren, Lindsay (Jasen) Dodds, Lori (Jonathan) Durket, Rachael (Troy) Koze, step-granddaughter, Micah Windsor, great grandchildren Linley and Griffin Dodds, Cash and Charlie Durket (with baby #3 on the way), and Grady and Reid Koze, step great-grandchildren, Blaike and Adasyn Windsor, a brother, Michael (Sherry) Anderson, Xenia, by several nieces and nephews, and by many close family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Phil will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. Services will be held at 10am, Friday, May 13th, at Xenia United Presbyterian Church, 343 W. Ankeney Mill Rd., Xenia. Visitation will be held Thursday May 12th from 4-8pm in the Xenia High School Gymnasium, 303 Kinsey Rd., Xenia. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Xenia immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Xenia Athletic Hall of Fame, c/o Greene Giving, 941 W. Second St., Xenia, OH, 45385, or to Xenia United Presbyterian Church in his memory. Condolences may be made to the family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com.