IN MEMORIUM: Horsham Parks Board Member, Noted Conservationist

Originally published on January 28, 2014.

By THERESA KATALINAS

Charles Henry “Chick” Phillippi died at home on Friday.

Married to Cora Lee (Eddy), they lived for 33 years in Prospectville with their sons, Matthew Charles, Jonathan Henry and Ho Van Binh. A conservationist, he served on the Horsham Township Park Board when the township planned for Carl Kohler Park, Deep Meadow Park and Samuel Carpenter Park.

He coached American Legion baseball for five seasons and was All Star coach three times. Philippi also coached Horsham Little League for five years and was a Cub Scout board member. A Horsham Township constable, Phillippi also served as Judge of Elections for his voting district for 16 years.

Born to Ruth and Charles Henry Phillippi, Sr., and raised in Philadelphia, he graduated from Dobbins Voc-Tech High. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force in MATS and Strategic Air Command.

In 1956, he moved to Wasilla, Alaska, and flew bush air transport for pioneer Bob Reeve of Reeve Aleutian Airways. In the summers of 2002-2004, he and his wife returned to Alaska and served the Department of Natural Resources at Quartz Lake near Delta. A volunteer in global education, he had N.G.O. status at the U.N. and downloaded information from Geneva for educational use.

He served with both the Pennsylvania Game and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissions for a total of 42 years. He taught fishing classes at Camp Cadet for 20 years and helped fellow law enforcement officers renovate a historic cabin on Tussy Mountain. He ranked high in state target shooting competitions and was an avid hunter, fisherman and camper.

Phillippi and his wife moved to State College in 1993 where he assisted in the family business, Japan Travel Consultants, ran related international projects and hosted international guests. An avid music lover, he performed with Robert Shaw, Fred Waring and The Mastersingers.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cora Lee; sons Matthew (Lisa Bauz) of Reading, Jonathan (Mari Ueno) of State College, Binh Van Ho (Ha Dang) of Philadelphia; five grandchildren - Brian, Andrew, Alex, Meghan and Rei; a sister, Barbara Anne DuBree of Stuart, Fla.; and nephews Rob and Charles DuBree.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Willow Grove Methodist Church, 34 York Road in Willow Grove. A luncheon will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Greb-Phillippi Fund to fund international exchange scholarships c/o JapanTrac, 1431 Linn St., State College, PA 16803.