Ralph W. Phillips

1926 - 2017

Ralph W. Phillips

Ralph Phillips passed away peacefully September 2, 2017. He will be profoundly missed by Dorothy Phillips, his wife of 70 years and the love of his life, and by his children and grandchildren: Sue and Bill Garrison of Jonesboro, AR and Phil and Melissa Garrison and Jimmy Garrison; Cassie Phillips of Federal Way and Rob and Lisa Plummer; Bob Phillips and Molly Curran of Seattle and Stella and Linus Phillips; Edgar and Cheryl Phillips of Tacoma and Bernadette Phillips; and John and Jessica Phillips of Seattle and Ellie and Ethan Phillips.

Ralph, known to friends and family as Putt, was born March 2, 1926 in Wilkinsburg, PA. He was a WWII veteran, a Marine Corps radar technician stationed in Hawaii. He started dating Dottie Miller when they were juniors in high school; they married September 6, 1947. Ralph earned an electrical engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh and worked for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, DC. He joined Boeing in 1958, recruited by mentor and lifelong friend Truxton Ringe, and worked in aerospace for 33 years. He moved the growing family to Bellevue, WA, Florida, California, and Maryland before settling back in Bellevue.

After retirement Ralph worked nearly full-time as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, his favorite job. He and Dorothy spent winters in Palm Desert, CA and lived happily in Port Ludlow, WA for 15 years until moving to Tacoma to be closer to their children.

Life was a grand adventure for Ralph and Dorothy. They loved the Pacific Northwest and took up skiing, golf, and backpacking, and sailed or motor-boated for 30 years in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. They traveled throughout the US and abroad.

Ralph also liked music. He played the flute and piccolo in school and in community bands in Solvang, CA and Bellevue. He and Dorothy sang in their Lutheran Church choirs, and he sang in community groups in Port Ludlow. Best of all he loved music he could dance to with Dottie: they danced on their first date and kept right on dancing throughout their long and happy marriage.

A private memorial service for family and friends will be held on Sunday, September 17th at 2:00pm at Franke Tobey Jones, 5340 N. Bristol St., Tacoma, WA 98407. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to Habitat for Humanity.