Phillip Verlin Lewellyn

Phillip Verlin Lewellyn
October 21, 1937 - April 25, 2017
Good Morning!” was always the first greeting you would hear from Phil, no matter the time of day. This cheerful and resounding salutation will be dearly missed by the family and friends of Phil Lewellyn, who passed away on the evening of Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
Phillip Verlin Lewellyn was born on October 21, 1937 to Albert and Edna Lewellyn. Phil had two sisters, Carol and Mary. Albert was employed in the logging industry and the Lewellyn family moved many times wherever Albert’s work took them including: Sisters, Lowell, Airlie, Philomath, and Monmouth. Growing up, Phil was involved in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. Phil attended high school at Central High School in Independence, where he was involved in 4-H and earned a blue ribbon for his angel food cake! Phil graduated high school in 1955 and then attended college at Oregon College of Education, now Western Oregon, before he joined the National Guard. Phil completed training at Fort Ord in California and served in the National Guard for two years.
Throughout his professional career, Phil worked as a Civil Engineer. He was first employed by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Coos Bay. Then from 1964 until his retirement, he worked for the Oregon Department of Transportation Highway Division. He began his career with ODOT working in Baker City and then was transferred to Klamath Falls.
While living and working in Klamath Falls, Phil met and married the love of his life, Mary, on March 11, 1968. The couple gave birth to two sons, Gregory and Kenneth. During Phil’s career, the family moved to The Dalles, Salem and Bend. After his beloved wife, Mary, passed away in 2000, Phil moved to Jefferson to be closer to family.
Throughout his life and retirement, Phil enjoyed many hobbies. He earned his amateur radio operating license. Phil loved being outdoors - he enjoyed gathering mushrooms with his wife, Mary and hunting and fishing with his sons, Greg and Ken. Phil also had a passion for traveling both near and far. He did not allow his age to slow him down. He acted as the Wagonmaster in his chapter of the Good Sam Club and was always planning his next great adventure! Some of his favorite trips included Japan, China, Panama, Europe and Hawaii, many of which he had taken fairly recently. After Phil retired, he also went back to college to learn to speak, read and write both Japanese and Chinese.
Phil was a jubilant and energetic man, who loved his family and friends dearly. He enjoyed organizing his annual family reunion and many camping trips and outdoor adventures, attending barbecues and gatherings and would never show up empty handed. He enjoyed baking and would often show up with homemade pies - either lemon, chocolate, apple or peach - all equally delicious. Along with his energetic demeanor, he always had a twinkle in his eye, a mug of coffee in his hand and a story ready to be told, advice to be given, or a helping hand to lend.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Edna Lewellyn and his beloved wife, Mary Lewellyn. He is survived by his sons: Greg (Diana) Lewellyn of Scio and Ken Lewellyn of Salem; grandchildren: Stefanie Simionidis of Oceanside, California, Sgt Kristofer (Jay) Schmidt of Okinawa, Japan, Nikolas (Hannah) Schmidt of Scio, Katrina Schmidt of Eugene; great-grandchild: Bradley Simionidis of Oceanside, California; sisters: Mary (Pat) Doyle of Albany and Carol Walther of Silverton and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil’s honor to the Boy Scouts of America.
A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday May 4, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Aasum-Dufour Funeral Home, located at 805 Ellsworth St SW, Albany, Oregon. 
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).