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Philip Carson Whitt Veteran
July 23, 2019

Obituary

Philip Carson Whitt 78, of Walpole, was embraced by his Parents when he passed onto his Heavenly Father July 23, 2019 after suffering complications due to Parkinson’s, Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s that arose after his exposure to Agent Orange. He was born June 27, 1941 in Mohawk, West Virginia; the only child of Hersel Arnold and Sylvia Bayes (Huddleston) Whitt. He grew up in McDowell County West Virginia, residing mostly in Coalwood, West Virginia. He graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia in 1959.
After graduation, he initially decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a coalminer. It was a short-lived foray and after being involved in a rock fall, he decided to re-evaluate his options. He felt his best option was joining the USAF.He enlisted October 8, 1959 much to the dismay of his mother.
He served in the USAF for 21 years, 8 months, 23 days and that service had him travel far and wide from his beloved mountains of West Virginia. He earned Top Secret clearance as a Radar Operator and served on many missions including: Bay of Pigs 1961/1962, volunteered for Vietnam 1965/1966 earning 2 Bronze Service Stars, and tracked space debris in Sky Lab’s path.
He was stationed at MacDill AFB, Florida; Goose Bay, Canada; DaNang Vietnam and the DMZ; Okino-erabu-shima, Japan; Mount John, New Zealand; Tyndall AFB, Florida; Nurrungar Rocket Range, Woomera, Australia; before finally retiring as Non Commissioned Officer In Charge of Space Missions at Offut AFB, Nebraska. It was during his deployment to New Zealand that he met and married his wife, M. Anne (Brownie) September 1, 1973. They welcomed their daughter, Katrina, during this deployment. They welcomed their son, JC, during his deployment in Woomera, Australia and became a true ANZUS family.
Following his retirement from the USAF, he continued to use his training and security clearance working for various companies contracted to support our military. This continued the pattern of moving with each contract, not dissimilar from the military transfers. He participated in Red Flag/ Green Flag exercises (in El Paso, TX; Arizona; Nevada); worked on guidance systems for the Smokey Sam missiles(Nevada); radar detection for the Stealth Bomber during the final phase of Research and Development (Nevada); Over the Horizon Backscatter Radar, part of the Star Wars program (Maine); and with the Tethered Aerostat Radar system (Texas).
In 1995 he completed a life-long goal of a college degree, earning an Associate’s Degree in Computer Technology from Eastern Maine Community College. He became the first member of his family to become a college graduate. It was during this time he worked as a Code Enforcement Officer for the towns of Bradley, Hampden, Kenduskeag and Orrington Maine .
After the 9/11 attacks he felt the need to repair the damage done. Unable to rejoin the military, he sought employment with Hensel Phelps as he had the combination of security clearance and Building Code knowledge they needed. He moved to Stafford, VA and became part of the team that re-built the Pentagon. Once that contract was completed, he once again achieved another life-long dream of working with his favorite son, JC. He was able to spend his last three years working along side his son before he had his final retirement.
Upon his final retirement, he and his wife moved to Chambersburg, PA in July 2011. They became active in the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring and were able to spend time with their grandchildren. Unfortunately, his health steadily declined and he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s related to his exposure to Agent Orange when he served in Vietnam. They moved to Walpole, MA in July of 2018 where he received excellent, compassionate care from the VA, his wife and daughter.
Phil was always quick to smile and rarely ever complained. He was the first to offer a helping hand if he found someone in need. His tenacious spirit, genial nature, and West Virginia work ethic and ingenuity were appreciated by all who met him. He had a way of creating family in every place he lived, that extended beyond biological connections. These qualities were never diminished by his dementia. He bestowed a love and appreciation of animals and nature, terrible beer, ugly trucker hats, audacious shirts, pool and card games to those who knew him best. He embodied the phrase: “Love of God, Love of Country, Love of Family”. He peacefully left this earthly realm to John Denvers “Take me home, country roads” surrounded by his loving wife, devoted daughter, son-in-law and their children.
Philip is survived by his beloved wife, M. Anne Whitt of Walpole, MA. His beloved, favorite daughter, Katrina Robertson; beloved favorite son-in-law, James Robertson and their children James and Bruar Robertson of Walpole, MA. His beloved, favorite son, J. C. Whitt of Leesburg, VA; his beloved, favorite daughter-in-law, Shelly (Pieschke) Whitt of Leesburg, VA; and their children Natasha Pieschke; Samuel Whitt; Chloe Whitt and Logan Whitt of Leesburg, VA.
We will honor his memory with two celebrations of life. We ask you to come and share stories, play some pool, and enjoy our ugly shirt tribute:
Napper Tandy’s (downstairs) Saturday, August 3 at 1pm
Leesburg, VA the weekend of 8/17, link to be posted once plans are finalized.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Wounded Warriors, Pets for Vets, your local support chapters for Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, or Alzheimer’s Disease.



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Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home
1803 Centre Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
617-323-5600