Philip William Pontius
1924 - 2014
Early Life: Phil was born April 20, 1924, on Easter Sunday, to parents Joseph Phillip Pontius and Ada C. Ireland Pontius, in Keokuk, Iowa.
Life's Work/Service/Interests: Phil met his wife of 68 years, Janet Irgens, at a noontime dance at Milwaukee State Teachers College, where she was a student and he had been sent for Air Force training. During World War II, Phil was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress (named Stormy Weather) with the 8th Air Force 379th Bomb Group out of Kimbolton, England. He jokingly referred to himself as Pontius the Pilot. After his service in the United States Army Air Force, he earned his Chemical Engineering degree at Iowa State College (now University). He worked for Union Carbide, in West Virginia, until he retired. For about 50 years, Phil and Jan were members of the Baptist Temple in Charleston, West Virginia, until they transferred their membership to Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. A year and a half ago, Phil and Jan moved to Elk Meadows Assisted Living in Oakley, Utah, to be close to family. Phil had many interests and hobbies. He continued his father's extensive genealogical work and found many family relatives in the United States, as well as, the German family ancestors. His interests also included hiking, playing bridge, golf, writing children's sermons, oil painting and charcoal drawing. He also published a book about his World War II experiences. Philip William Pontius passed away peacefully on April 8, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 89.
Survived By: His loving wife, Jan; daughter, Gail (W. Nicholas) Schomaker; son, Jay (Kathy) Pontius; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Marianna Pontius and Virginia Morse; brother-in-law, Bill Cackley; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded In Death By: His parents; brother, Eugene Pontius; sisters: Pauline Riley and Joann Cackley; brothers-in-law: Harold Riley and William Morse.
Services: Viewing and funeral at Utah State Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel with full military honors.
Mortuary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Obituary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1924 - 2014
Early Life: Phil was born April 20, 1924, on Easter Sunday, to parents Joseph Phillip Pontius and Ada C. Ireland Pontius, in Keokuk, Iowa.
Life's Work/Service/Interests: Phil met his wife of 68 years, Janet Irgens, at a noontime dance at Milwaukee State Teachers College, where she was a student and he had been sent for Air Force training. During World War II, Phil was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress (named Stormy Weather) with the 8th Air Force 379th Bomb Group out of Kimbolton, England. He jokingly referred to himself as Pontius the Pilot. After his service in the United States Army Air Force, he earned his Chemical Engineering degree at Iowa State College (now University). He worked for Union Carbide, in West Virginia, until he retired. For about 50 years, Phil and Jan were members of the Baptist Temple in Charleston, West Virginia, until they transferred their membership to Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. A year and a half ago, Phil and Jan moved to Elk Meadows Assisted Living in Oakley, Utah, to be close to family. Phil had many interests and hobbies. He continued his father's extensive genealogical work and found many family relatives in the United States, as well as, the German family ancestors. His interests also included hiking, playing bridge, golf, writing children's sermons, oil painting and charcoal drawing. He also published a book about his World War II experiences. Philip William Pontius passed away peacefully on April 8, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 89.
Survived By: His loving wife, Jan; daughter, Gail (W. Nicholas) Schomaker; son, Jay (Kathy) Pontius; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Marianna Pontius and Virginia Morse; brother-in-law, Bill Cackley; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded In Death By: His parents; brother, Eugene Pontius; sisters: Pauline Riley and Joann Cackley; brothers-in-law: Harold Riley and William Morse.
Services: Viewing and funeral at Utah State Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel with full military honors.
Mortuary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Obituary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Philip William Pontius
1924 - 2014
Early Life: Phil was born April 20, 1924, on Easter Sunday, to parents Joseph Phillip Pontius and Ada C. Ireland Pontius, in Keokuk, Iowa.
Life's Work/Service/Interests: Phil met his wife of 68 years, Janet Irgens, at a noontime dance at Milwaukee State Teachers College, where she was a student and he had been sent for Air Force training. During World War II, Phil was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress (named Stormy Weather) with the 8th Air Force 379th Bomb Group out of Kimbolton, England. He jokingly referred to himself as Pontius the Pilot. After his service in the United States Army Air Force, he earned his Chemical Engineering degree at Iowa State College (now University). He worked for Union Carbide, in West Virginia, until he retired. For about 50 years, Phil and Jan were members of the Baptist Temple in Charleston, West Virginia, until they transferred their membership to Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. A year and a half ago, Phil and Jan moved to Elk Meadows Assisted Living in Oakley, Utah, to be close to family. Phil had many interests and hobbies. He continued his father's extensive genealogical work and found many family relatives in the United States, as well as, the German family ancestors. His interests also included hiking, playing bridge, golf, writing children's sermons, oil painting and charcoal drawing. He also published a book about his World War II experiences. Philip William Pontius passed away peacefully on April 8, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 89.
Survived By: His loving wife, Jan; daughter, Gail (W. Nicholas) Schomaker; son, Jay (Kathy) Pontius; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Marianna Pontius and Virginia Morse; brother-in-law, Bill Cackley; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded In Death By: His parents; brother, Eugene Pontius; sisters: Pauline Riley and Joann Cackley; brothers-in-law: Harold Riley and William Morse.
Services: Viewing and funeral at Utah State Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel with full military honors.
Mortuary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Obituary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1924 - 2014
Early Life: Phil was born April 20, 1924, on Easter Sunday, to parents Joseph Phillip Pontius and Ada C. Ireland Pontius, in Keokuk, Iowa.
Life's Work/Service/Interests: Phil met his wife of 68 years, Janet Irgens, at a noontime dance at Milwaukee State Teachers College, where she was a student and he had been sent for Air Force training. During World War II, Phil was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress (named Stormy Weather) with the 8th Air Force 379th Bomb Group out of Kimbolton, England. He jokingly referred to himself as Pontius the Pilot. After his service in the United States Army Air Force, he earned his Chemical Engineering degree at Iowa State College (now University). He worked for Union Carbide, in West Virginia, until he retired. For about 50 years, Phil and Jan were members of the Baptist Temple in Charleston, West Virginia, until they transferred their membership to Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. A year and a half ago, Phil and Jan moved to Elk Meadows Assisted Living in Oakley, Utah, to be close to family. Phil had many interests and hobbies. He continued his father's extensive genealogical work and found many family relatives in the United States, as well as, the German family ancestors. His interests also included hiking, playing bridge, golf, writing children's sermons, oil painting and charcoal drawing. He also published a book about his World War II experiences. Philip William Pontius passed away peacefully on April 8, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 89.
Survived By: His loving wife, Jan; daughter, Gail (W. Nicholas) Schomaker; son, Jay (Kathy) Pontius; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Marianna Pontius and Virginia Morse; brother-in-law, Bill Cackley; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded In Death By: His parents; brother, Eugene Pontius; sisters: Pauline Riley and Joann Cackley; brothers-in-law: Harold Riley and William Morse.
Services: Viewing and funeral at Utah State Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel with full military honors.
Mortuary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Obituary: Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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