Born in Jonesville, Michigan to Lyle and Ruth (Kroh) Baker. He was the third child of five, and the oldest sibling to live to adulthood.
Phil grew up on a farm in Osseo, Michigan with his parents and younger siblings Mike and Cara. He used to round up the cows on a tractor. One of his brother Mike's favorite memories was of his older brother Phil out in the barn, switching out the transmission from one vehicle to another to impress an important date. Phil was a very private person during his younger years and remained so throughout his life. Though he kept to himself, he was one to help when help was needed. When the time came, Phil stepped up and taught Mike how to drive, (using the car Phil's Grandpa Kroh had given him), and driving in the cow pasture.
He graduated from Pittsford High School in Michigan in 1952, where he had played football and the saxophone. His love of music never stopped. He was very active with the Toledo Barbershop group while living in Toledo Ohio in the early 1970’s, and later became a member of the Fabulous Phoenicians, singing in a quartet in Phoenix, Arizona. Phil was a judge with SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation of Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in American). He attended Michigan State University, and became a blue-print designer. He also worked for the Ford Motor Company and Clark Equipment and retired in 1997 as a Tool Mechanical Design Engineer III from Honeywell International (previously Allied Signal Aerospace) in Scottsdale, Arizona.
He was very proud and honored to have served as a Private First Class with the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1956 - 1960.
After retirement, he and his wife Anna Maria ran a Mailbox Etc. business in Chandler, AZ. Not one to sit idle, after selling their successful business, he continued working part-time as a home delivery driver for Minute Man Dry Cleaning and as a security guard for the retirement community where they lived.
He was an avid golfer, and passed quietly watching the 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament with family members in Gilbert, Arizona. He is missed by everyone he touched throughout his many years.
Phil grew up on a farm in Osseo, Michigan with his parents and younger siblings Mike and Cara. He used to round up the cows on a tractor. One of his brother Mike's favorite memories was of his older brother Phil out in the barn, switching out the transmission from one vehicle to another to impress an important date. Phil was a very private person during his younger years and remained so throughout his life. Though he kept to himself, he was one to help when help was needed. When the time came, Phil stepped up and taught Mike how to drive, (using the car Phil's Grandpa Kroh had given him), and driving in the cow pasture.
He graduated from Pittsford High School in Michigan in 1952, where he had played football and the saxophone. His love of music never stopped. He was very active with the Toledo Barbershop group while living in Toledo Ohio in the early 1970’s, and later became a member of the Fabulous Phoenicians, singing in a quartet in Phoenix, Arizona. Phil was a judge with SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation of Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in American). He attended Michigan State University, and became a blue-print designer. He also worked for the Ford Motor Company and Clark Equipment and retired in 1997 as a Tool Mechanical Design Engineer III from Honeywell International (previously Allied Signal Aerospace) in Scottsdale, Arizona.
He was very proud and honored to have served as a Private First Class with the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1956 - 1960.
After retirement, he and his wife Anna Maria ran a Mailbox Etc. business in Chandler, AZ. Not one to sit idle, after selling their successful business, he continued working part-time as a home delivery driver for Minute Man Dry Cleaning and as a security guard for the retirement community where they lived.
He was an avid golfer, and passed quietly watching the 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament with family members in Gilbert, Arizona. He is missed by everyone he touched throughout his many years.
Born in Jonesville, Michigan to Lyle and Ruth (Kroh) Baker. He was the third child of five, and the oldest sibling to live to adulthood.
Phil grew up on a farm in Osseo, Michigan with his parents and younger siblings Mike and Cara. He used to round up the cows on a tractor. One of his brother Mike's favorite memories was of his older brother Phil out in the barn, switching out the transmission from one vehicle to another to impress an important date. Phil was a very private person during his younger years and remained so throughout his life. Though he kept to himself, he was one to help when help was needed. When the time came, Phil stepped up and taught Mike how to drive, (using the car Phil's Grandpa Kroh had given him), and driving in the cow pasture.
He graduated from Pittsford High School in Michigan in 1952, where he had played football and the saxophone. His love of music never stopped. He was very active with the Toledo Barbershop group while living in Toledo Ohio in the early 1970’s, and later became a member of the Fabulous Phoenicians, singing in a quartet in Phoenix, Arizona. Phil was a judge with SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation of Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in American). He attended Michigan State University, and became a blue-print designer. He also worked for the Ford Motor Company and Clark Equipment and retired in 1997 as a Tool Mechanical Design Engineer III from Honeywell International (previously Allied Signal Aerospace) in Scottsdale, Arizona.
He was very proud and honored to have served as a Private First Class with the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1956 - 1960.
After retirement, he and his wife Anna Maria ran a Mailbox Etc. business in Chandler, AZ. Not one to sit idle, after selling their successful business, he continued working part-time as a home delivery driver for Minute Man Dry Cleaning and as a security guard for the retirement community where they lived.
He was an avid golfer, and passed quietly watching the 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament with family members in Gilbert, Arizona. He is missed by everyone he touched throughout his many years.
Phil grew up on a farm in Osseo, Michigan with his parents and younger siblings Mike and Cara. He used to round up the cows on a tractor. One of his brother Mike's favorite memories was of his older brother Phil out in the barn, switching out the transmission from one vehicle to another to impress an important date. Phil was a very private person during his younger years and remained so throughout his life. Though he kept to himself, he was one to help when help was needed. When the time came, Phil stepped up and taught Mike how to drive, (using the car Phil's Grandpa Kroh had given him), and driving in the cow pasture.
He graduated from Pittsford High School in Michigan in 1952, where he had played football and the saxophone. His love of music never stopped. He was very active with the Toledo Barbershop group while living in Toledo Ohio in the early 1970’s, and later became a member of the Fabulous Phoenicians, singing in a quartet in Phoenix, Arizona. Phil was a judge with SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation of Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in American). He attended Michigan State University, and became a blue-print designer. He also worked for the Ford Motor Company and Clark Equipment and retired in 1997 as a Tool Mechanical Design Engineer III from Honeywell International (previously Allied Signal Aerospace) in Scottsdale, Arizona.
He was very proud and honored to have served as a Private First Class with the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1956 - 1960.
After retirement, he and his wife Anna Maria ran a Mailbox Etc. business in Chandler, AZ. Not one to sit idle, after selling their successful business, he continued working part-time as a home delivery driver for Minute Man Dry Cleaning and as a security guard for the retirement community where they lived.
He was an avid golfer, and passed quietly watching the 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament with family members in Gilbert, Arizona. He is missed by everyone he touched throughout his many years.
Gravesite Details
Cremated; memorial in Cemetery
Family Members
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