Philip Gordon White -- husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather, and friend to many – passed away on December 23, 2015 surrounded by the love of his family. He was born in Fort Collins in 1925, graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1943, and served in the U.S. Army, enlisting immediately after graduation. He graduated from CSU (then Colorado A&M) after returning home from his military service. In 1947, he married Dorothy Ammons and, together, they raised three daughters, Cindy, Wendy, and Becky.
Phil was especially proud of his class of 1943 and maintained close connections with all the surviving members. They met for coffee on a regular basis, organized reunions, and, just one month ago, helped him celebrate his 90th birthday – a grand party at which he and Dorothy danced.
Phil, never one to like bosses, bureaucracy, or committee meetings, worked primarily for himself. He was a realtor and also taught real estate through the University of Colorado extension program, preparing many of today’s realtors to take the licensing exam. He was also a loan officer and an appraisal expert. He and Dorothy had great fun traveling the country to visit their daughters and buying and selling antiques along the way.
He was a soldier, scholar, poet, and humanist. He was a craftsman and many friends and all family members are proud owners of the furniture he made, mostly from found materials. (If it was made by an old guy from old wood, it was an antique, after all.) He was a volunteer with the Fort Collins Trolley, the Elks Club, and Meals on Wheels and also worked on numerous Girl Scout and church activities with which his girls were involved. He served on the boards of Gateway and the Northern Colorado Traditional Jazz Society. His sense of civic duty and pride is deeply rooted in his family, who remain involved in volunteer service.
An avid sports fan, Phil could listen to baseball on the radio, watch golf on one station and football on another AND tell you the score of all three. He had a good ear for music and played the piano, banjo, and ukulele. Living in a house with four females for so many years made him extra special. He supported everything his daughters ever did and was often seen at Mother-Daughter fashion shows, ballet recitals, and Girl Scout events. He embraced his two grandsons, Ian and Ryan, and became equally engaged in their activities. He always seemed able to provide the right-sized bikes if the boys visited in summer or the right-sized ice skates if they visited in winter. He loved scouting and taught his family a respect for nature by going hiking, fishing, and camping. (We all know how to cook biscuits on a stick!)
He was a storyteller. He published many stories and poems under his persona as the Ol’ Maverick. More recently, he wrote a series of cherished memories about growing up in Fort Collins and published these in the Coloradoan. In just minutes, he could pen a poem or limerick to commemorate any situation, adding a touch of humor to ease us all over the challenges we faced.
He was brave. He was tolerant and compassionate. Humor and good will were his response to adversity and he maintained his optimism through his final days. He was a giant among men, with a bigger than life personality and he will be deeply missed by all who loved him. Phil is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; three daughters: Cindy Williamson (Drew), Wendy White (John Merritt), and Becky Echeverria; two grandsons: Ian (Jehan) and Ryan (Erin) Williamson, and three great grandchildren, KayLee, Cole, and Kieran. His life’s journey was a happy one filled with travel, family, music, dancing, laughter, and love. And parties! Indeed, he was always ready for a good party, either as host or guest. To honor that love, a celebration of Phil’s life is scheduled for January 9, 2:00 at the Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living, 2020 South College Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Fort Collins Meals on Wheels or Pathways Hospice.
Vessey Funeral and Cremation Service
Phil was especially proud of his class of 1943 and maintained close connections with all the surviving members. They met for coffee on a regular basis, organized reunions, and, just one month ago, helped him celebrate his 90th birthday – a grand party at which he and Dorothy danced.
Phil, never one to like bosses, bureaucracy, or committee meetings, worked primarily for himself. He was a realtor and also taught real estate through the University of Colorado extension program, preparing many of today’s realtors to take the licensing exam. He was also a loan officer and an appraisal expert. He and Dorothy had great fun traveling the country to visit their daughters and buying and selling antiques along the way.
He was a soldier, scholar, poet, and humanist. He was a craftsman and many friends and all family members are proud owners of the furniture he made, mostly from found materials. (If it was made by an old guy from old wood, it was an antique, after all.) He was a volunteer with the Fort Collins Trolley, the Elks Club, and Meals on Wheels and also worked on numerous Girl Scout and church activities with which his girls were involved. He served on the boards of Gateway and the Northern Colorado Traditional Jazz Society. His sense of civic duty and pride is deeply rooted in his family, who remain involved in volunteer service.
An avid sports fan, Phil could listen to baseball on the radio, watch golf on one station and football on another AND tell you the score of all three. He had a good ear for music and played the piano, banjo, and ukulele. Living in a house with four females for so many years made him extra special. He supported everything his daughters ever did and was often seen at Mother-Daughter fashion shows, ballet recitals, and Girl Scout events. He embraced his two grandsons, Ian and Ryan, and became equally engaged in their activities. He always seemed able to provide the right-sized bikes if the boys visited in summer or the right-sized ice skates if they visited in winter. He loved scouting and taught his family a respect for nature by going hiking, fishing, and camping. (We all know how to cook biscuits on a stick!)
He was a storyteller. He published many stories and poems under his persona as the Ol’ Maverick. More recently, he wrote a series of cherished memories about growing up in Fort Collins and published these in the Coloradoan. In just minutes, he could pen a poem or limerick to commemorate any situation, adding a touch of humor to ease us all over the challenges we faced.
He was brave. He was tolerant and compassionate. Humor and good will were his response to adversity and he maintained his optimism through his final days. He was a giant among men, with a bigger than life personality and he will be deeply missed by all who loved him. Phil is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; three daughters: Cindy Williamson (Drew), Wendy White (John Merritt), and Becky Echeverria; two grandsons: Ian (Jehan) and Ryan (Erin) Williamson, and three great grandchildren, KayLee, Cole, and Kieran. His life’s journey was a happy one filled with travel, family, music, dancing, laughter, and love. And parties! Indeed, he was always ready for a good party, either as host or guest. To honor that love, a celebration of Phil’s life is scheduled for January 9, 2:00 at the Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living, 2020 South College Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Fort Collins Meals on Wheels or Pathways Hospice.
Vessey Funeral and Cremation Service
Philip Gordon White -- husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather, and friend to many – passed away on December 23, 2015 surrounded by the love of his family. He was born in Fort Collins in 1925, graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1943, and served in the U.S. Army, enlisting immediately after graduation. He graduated from CSU (then Colorado A&M) after returning home from his military service. In 1947, he married Dorothy Ammons and, together, they raised three daughters, Cindy, Wendy, and Becky.
Phil was especially proud of his class of 1943 and maintained close connections with all the surviving members. They met for coffee on a regular basis, organized reunions, and, just one month ago, helped him celebrate his 90th birthday – a grand party at which he and Dorothy danced.
Phil, never one to like bosses, bureaucracy, or committee meetings, worked primarily for himself. He was a realtor and also taught real estate through the University of Colorado extension program, preparing many of today’s realtors to take the licensing exam. He was also a loan officer and an appraisal expert. He and Dorothy had great fun traveling the country to visit their daughters and buying and selling antiques along the way.
He was a soldier, scholar, poet, and humanist. He was a craftsman and many friends and all family members are proud owners of the furniture he made, mostly from found materials. (If it was made by an old guy from old wood, it was an antique, after all.) He was a volunteer with the Fort Collins Trolley, the Elks Club, and Meals on Wheels and also worked on numerous Girl Scout and church activities with which his girls were involved. He served on the boards of Gateway and the Northern Colorado Traditional Jazz Society. His sense of civic duty and pride is deeply rooted in his family, who remain involved in volunteer service.
An avid sports fan, Phil could listen to baseball on the radio, watch golf on one station and football on another AND tell you the score of all three. He had a good ear for music and played the piano, banjo, and ukulele. Living in a house with four females for so many years made him extra special. He supported everything his daughters ever did and was often seen at Mother-Daughter fashion shows, ballet recitals, and Girl Scout events. He embraced his two grandsons, Ian and Ryan, and became equally engaged in their activities. He always seemed able to provide the right-sized bikes if the boys visited in summer or the right-sized ice skates if they visited in winter. He loved scouting and taught his family a respect for nature by going hiking, fishing, and camping. (We all know how to cook biscuits on a stick!)
He was a storyteller. He published many stories and poems under his persona as the Ol’ Maverick. More recently, he wrote a series of cherished memories about growing up in Fort Collins and published these in the Coloradoan. In just minutes, he could pen a poem or limerick to commemorate any situation, adding a touch of humor to ease us all over the challenges we faced.
He was brave. He was tolerant and compassionate. Humor and good will were his response to adversity and he maintained his optimism through his final days. He was a giant among men, with a bigger than life personality and he will be deeply missed by all who loved him. Phil is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; three daughters: Cindy Williamson (Drew), Wendy White (John Merritt), and Becky Echeverria; two grandsons: Ian (Jehan) and Ryan (Erin) Williamson, and three great grandchildren, KayLee, Cole, and Kieran. His life’s journey was a happy one filled with travel, family, music, dancing, laughter, and love. And parties! Indeed, he was always ready for a good party, either as host or guest. To honor that love, a celebration of Phil’s life is scheduled for January 9, 2:00 at the Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living, 2020 South College Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Fort Collins Meals on Wheels or Pathways Hospice.
Vessey Funeral and Cremation Service
Phil was especially proud of his class of 1943 and maintained close connections with all the surviving members. They met for coffee on a regular basis, organized reunions, and, just one month ago, helped him celebrate his 90th birthday – a grand party at which he and Dorothy danced.
Phil, never one to like bosses, bureaucracy, or committee meetings, worked primarily for himself. He was a realtor and also taught real estate through the University of Colorado extension program, preparing many of today’s realtors to take the licensing exam. He was also a loan officer and an appraisal expert. He and Dorothy had great fun traveling the country to visit their daughters and buying and selling antiques along the way.
He was a soldier, scholar, poet, and humanist. He was a craftsman and many friends and all family members are proud owners of the furniture he made, mostly from found materials. (If it was made by an old guy from old wood, it was an antique, after all.) He was a volunteer with the Fort Collins Trolley, the Elks Club, and Meals on Wheels and also worked on numerous Girl Scout and church activities with which his girls were involved. He served on the boards of Gateway and the Northern Colorado Traditional Jazz Society. His sense of civic duty and pride is deeply rooted in his family, who remain involved in volunteer service.
An avid sports fan, Phil could listen to baseball on the radio, watch golf on one station and football on another AND tell you the score of all three. He had a good ear for music and played the piano, banjo, and ukulele. Living in a house with four females for so many years made him extra special. He supported everything his daughters ever did and was often seen at Mother-Daughter fashion shows, ballet recitals, and Girl Scout events. He embraced his two grandsons, Ian and Ryan, and became equally engaged in their activities. He always seemed able to provide the right-sized bikes if the boys visited in summer or the right-sized ice skates if they visited in winter. He loved scouting and taught his family a respect for nature by going hiking, fishing, and camping. (We all know how to cook biscuits on a stick!)
He was a storyteller. He published many stories and poems under his persona as the Ol’ Maverick. More recently, he wrote a series of cherished memories about growing up in Fort Collins and published these in the Coloradoan. In just minutes, he could pen a poem or limerick to commemorate any situation, adding a touch of humor to ease us all over the challenges we faced.
He was brave. He was tolerant and compassionate. Humor and good will were his response to adversity and he maintained his optimism through his final days. He was a giant among men, with a bigger than life personality and he will be deeply missed by all who loved him. Phil is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; three daughters: Cindy Williamson (Drew), Wendy White (John Merritt), and Becky Echeverria; two grandsons: Ian (Jehan) and Ryan (Erin) Williamson, and three great grandchildren, KayLee, Cole, and Kieran. His life’s journey was a happy one filled with travel, family, music, dancing, laughter, and love. And parties! Indeed, he was always ready for a good party, either as host or guest. To honor that love, a celebration of Phil’s life is scheduled for January 9, 2:00 at the Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living, 2020 South College Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Fort Collins Meals on Wheels or Pathways Hospice.
Vessey Funeral and Cremation Service
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