Jack Otto Phillabaum, 97, passed away peacefully September 26, 2025 at Legacy Reserve in Columbus Georgia. He was born in Portland Oregon on July 22, 1928, to Sena Jane (Morrison) Phillabaum and Clarence Otto Philabaum.
In August of 1946 he enlisted in the US Army Medical Corp and served 4 years, assigned to the 361st Station Hospital in the outskirts of Tokyo Japan and later Osaka taking care of patients as a medic.
In June of 1950, Jack was assigned to Pusan, Korea setting up the 8054th Evacuation Hospital, a 250-bed hospital which later became the 5th Station Hospital. When the war got close to the Pusan Perimeter, they began receiving hundreds of wounded and sick soldiers where he worked countless hours in Surgery for the next two years.
After two more stateside assignments working in the Operative and Intensive Care Units, Jack was accepted to Army Officers Candidate School while stationed in Fort Dix, New Jersey. This is where he met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Bayhoff.
In May of 1953 he reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Artillery Officers Candidate School, and graduated with honors November 2nd. Jack and Mary got married November 7, 1953 in Bristol Pennsylvania.
From March 1954 to from March 1957 Jack attended fixed wing flight training in San Marcus, Texas, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Helicopter Training at Fort Rucker Alabama.
In March of 1957 Jack was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned to the 25th Aviation Company at Wheeler Air Field at Schofield Barracks, Island of Oahu, Hawaii. After 4 memorable years in Hawaii Jack was promoted to Captain.
In June of 1961 Jack was assigned to The Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker Alabama. In January of 1963 he started training other pilots in the H-12 twin rotary wing Helicopter (“the flying banana”).
Jack served in Vietnam from June 1963 to June 1964 with the 33rd Transportation Light Helicopter Company, and assumed further responsibilities as an Operations Officer to the 118th Aviation Co.in Bien Hoa Air Force Base and the 145th Battalion Station in Saigon where he was promoted to Major.
After two more assignments to Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Rucker, Alabama, Jack retired from the US Army in July 1966.
Jack’s post military career led him towards his home in Vancouver, Washington where he became a stock broker and a helicopter pilot for Columbia Helicopters. Jack enjoyed being close to his sister Jane and other relatives, and taking the family camping and hiking the beautiful Pacific Northwest. He eventually accepted a position as a Flight Instructor with Ross Aviation in Fort Rucker Alabama.
In 1968 Jack bought and cleared 4 acres of land in Enterprise Alabama, and built a home for his family. During these years, he taught his children how to build a fence to enclose the family property, grow a big garden and can vegetables. He built a barn, put in a pool, and bought a horse and pony for his children to care for and enjoy.
In 1970, Jack had a calling to return to his medical career. He attended Nursing School and then Anesthesia School graduating top of his class in 1974 and accepted a position with Anesthesia Associates in Columbus Georgia.
In 1991 Jack Retired. He and Mary moved to Sapphire Valley. North Carolina where they built a mountain home his son Steve designed.
Jack spent many happy years enjoying the mountains, hiking the Appalachian Trail, entertaining all his family and taking his Grandchildren exploring the mountain trails and rivers. His greatest accomplishment was building his own Mustang II airplane; and flying around North Carolina, with yearly trips to Osh Kosh Winsconsin and the Fun -N-Sun Gathering in Florida.
Most importantly, Jack was a man of Faith and Integrity in his career and family life. He was devoted to his wife Mary and raised his six children with love, attention, good advice and the value of family and friends. He made life fun, while teaching his children self-sufficiency, playing fair and always respecting others. As a father, his children learned to be kind, welcoming and non-judgmental.
Jack was preceded in death by his Father Clarence Otto Phillabam, his mother Sena Jane (Morrison) Philabaum, his Wife Mary Catherine (Bayhoff) Phillabaum, his sister Jane Sena Santana, his Granddaughter Laura Gregory, and two Great Grandchildren Kyle Beard and Jessica Sanders.
He his survived by his daughters Terilyn Beard (Tom), Kathleen Gregory (Bill), Jeannette Lougee (John), Christine Braski (Pat), Diane Land (John), and his son Steven Phillabaum, 16 Grandchildren, 25 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great Great Grandchildren.
“Well Done good and Faithful servant”
Mathew 25:23
