Philip Warren Strother's Obituary
Philip Warren Strother was born on August 12, 1958, in Tacoma, Washington to Charles and Marjorie Strother, joining sisters Laurene and DeAnn. Phil lived in Tacoma his entire life, except for a few months when he lived in Gig Harbor. He attended school at Skyline Elementary School, Truman Junior High School, and Wilson High School, graduating in 1976. He took a few classes at Tacoma Community College and then entered the full-time work force at Fred Meyer. He worked in various positions during his 41-year tenure with Fred Meyer. He finished his working career with Retail Odyssey (doing resets in, you guessed it, Fred Meyer stores), retiring on September 14, 2022.
Phil’s passions were unmistakable. He loved and served the Lord. He loved and was devoted to his family. He loved baseball and, to a slightly lesser degree, football. Phil liked to say that his three favorite baseball teams were the Dodgers, Mariners and whoever was playing the Yankees. His favorite football teams were the Cowboys and the Seahawks. He loved sports in general, really. He played soccer, was a runner and played softball every chance he got. Musically, Phil loved the band Chicago, John Denver, and Olivia Newton-John. His favorite vacation destination was Disneyland with Spring Training in Arizona coming in second. Camping was something Phil always enjoyed. He also enjoyed zoos, parades, and fireworks. Life highlights for him were attending the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and two visits to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. A third visit was certainly on his radar, especially after Ken Griffey, Jr. and Edgar Martinez were inducted! A bucket list highlight was a hot air balloon flight in full view of Mt. Rainier for his 60th birthday.
Phil was preceded in death by his Aunt Beth & Uncle Clayton Taylor, his parents, his “Little Sister,” DeAnn Weston and his brother-in-law, Dave Pendleton. He will be especially missed and held close in heart by his wife of almost 32 years, Kathy Strother, his sister Laurene Pendleton, his brother-in-law, Gary Weston and his dearest friend, Mark Perkins. He loved being Uncle Phil to Jenne Kjellesvik, Clayton Pendleton, Jaime Pendleton, Sarah Myers, Keri Demas, Andrew Perkins, Sarah Perkins, Rebecca Raychard and Emily Greenlee (who is also his god daughter). Rebecca and Emily lovingly called him Uncle Goose. He was privileged to be a great uncle to Laura Englert, Rachael Martindale, Erica Kjellesvik, Mikki Kjellesvik, Kyle Hoyt, Cameron Myers, Cole Myers and Maddy Demas and a great, grand uncle to Graceyn Kjellesvik, Gema Hoyt and Isabella Englert.
Phil was called home by the Lord he served on March 3, 2024. A celebration of a life well-loved and well-lived will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Olympic View Baptist Church 4707 Elwood Dr. W. University Place, Washington 98466.
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