Walter Philip Jordan

Antonio, TX. Out of the outbreak of WWII, his father disappeared and was gone

permanently. Soon after that he and his older brother were placed in a Church of Christ

orphanage in NE TX for two years. What he experienced there had a profound effect (good

and bad) in various aspects of the rest of his life.

After being discharged the family relocated to Mineola, TX. In such a small town he excelled

in band, basketball, and football. Before the ink dried on his high school diploma, he

enlisted in the United States Air Force. This coincided with the Korean “Conflict.” He was

stationed on Okinawa Island in Japan. He served in the capacity of an Air-Traffic Controller.

Toward the end of his four-year term, he was stationed in Traverse City, MI. Being a Texas

boy in such an inhospitably cold climate caused him to seek a transfer. Fate often has

other plans and at the 11th hour, it occurred.

He met a local lady, Mary Louise Bolek, the love of his life, in 1955. Love blossomed and

they married soon after his discharge in late 1955. The pair then relocated to Tyler, TX

where three sons were born: Walter in 1956, Forrest in 1960, and Jason in 1967.

Phil spent approximately 30 years at Bonar Packaging in various administrative capacities.

He was an avid golfer with a so-so handicap. Never uttered that while he was alive. His

biggest passion was baseball. He played briefly in the lower level of the minor leagues with

the now-defunct St. Louis Browns.

After that experience, he settled down and raised my brothers and me. He coached and

fully endorsed our pursuits, culminating in a baseball city championship for the Royals in

1982.

Something less common then, he and my mom were equals and he solicited her thoughts

and wisdom on minor and major life experiences. They were equals but most importantly

they taught my brothers and me how to love and be loved. Quite a legacy.

Phil is survived by his beautiful wife of 68 years, Mary Jordan; sons Walter Jordan (67), and

his wife Sherry of Tyler, TX; Forrest Jordan (64) of Lindale, TX, and Jason (57) of Rockwall, TX.

Phil had 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Phil was preceded in death by his beloved cousin Frances Richardson, brother John Jordan,

mother Edith Barnhill, and step-father Pat Barnhill.