Phillip "Phil" Rosser's Obituary
Phillip (Phil) Glen Rosser was born on February 10, 1947 to Henry W. Rosser and Ella Polhemus, in his maternal grandmother’s home in Encampment, Wyoming. His family later moved to Evanston, Wyoming, where he grew up. Phil passed away peacefully on October 18, 2023 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.
After graduating from high school in 1965, he briefly worked as a member of a section crew laying rails for the Southern Pacific RR, under his father’s supervision. He enlisted in the Navy in July 1966, as a Radioman, served tours in the Vietnam War, and was honorably discharged in October 1977. During his enlistment, Phil and his wife, Mercedes, were stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, the Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California, and at the Naval Base in San Diego, California.
After his service in the Navy, Phil and Mercedes returned to Tacoma, Washington. Phil worked for Teleprompter installing cable TV lines, for the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company as marine electrician and later as a test engineer. He then worked as a marine electrical test engineer for the Washington State Ferry System until retirement in September 2004. After his retirement, Phil continued his interest in radios and Morse code. He earned his HAM radio license and enjoyed contacts with hundreds of other HAM radio operators throughout the world. But his favorite pastime was taking many, many selfies with their beloved dog Cooper and sharing his ice cream cones with “Coopie” after their daily walk.
Phil is survived by Mercedes (nee Bautista) his beloved wife of 53 years, canine-child Cooper, an Australian Labradoodle, siblings from his upbringing in Wyoming, many cousins in Germany, and Mercedes’ brothers by whom he was beloved and respected as their own, many nieces and nephews, and long time friends. Phil is missed and will continuously be missed by all who loved him and by all who knew him.
Funeral arrangements have been faithfully entrusted to Mountain View Funeral Home, located at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA, 98499.
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