Philip Michael McRoberts

Philip Michael McRoberts peacefully left this world on Monday, September 18, 2023, at the age of 70. He was at the James Cancer Hospital, surrounded by his loved ones, who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

He was born to Thomas and Dolores McRoberts on July 1, 1953. His childhood in Kettering, Ohio was filled with creating memories with his younger brother Greg. Phil and Greg would spend countless hours riding their bikes around the neighborhood and playing pickup basketball. This brotherly bond continued throughout their adult lives, as they would come together to share their love of vintage cars and attend the Good Guys car show when it passed through Columbus, Ohio.

Phil set out to live a full and purposeful life that was rooted in family. He met his wife Carol when they both were working at Imperial Eastman in Dayton, Ohio, in the 1980s. It was over a first date at T.G.I.F. where two Diet Cokes were ordered, that Phil knew Carol was who he wanted to share a future with. A short year later, the two moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where their love grew deeper. They ultimately came back home to Ohio so their families could celebrate their commitment to each other when they got married on October 14, 1989.

Together, they had two daughters, Sara and Jessica. If you asked Phil, his greatest accomplishment was being a dad; his girls were his world. He loved driving them around in his 1971 Cadillac Eldorado, playing classic rock on the radio, to all of their sporting events. Above all, his favorite thing about being a “girl dad” was making sure he raised two independent women. From showing them the difference between a flathead and a Phillips screwdriver, to teaching them what to look for when buying a car, Phil made certain he passed down his depths of knowledge so that his girls could take on the world around them.

Phil found so much joy in his life. His ideal day began with a Diet Coke from his favorite McDonald’s, then hitting up Einstein Bros. Bagels to get a baker’s dozen of bagels and a pack of doggy bagels for his dog Toby, but only on Mondays. His day would follow with woodworking projects in the garage while listening to a Stevie Ray Vaughn or Tom Petty playlist, accompanied with most likely a second McDonald’s Diet Coke. This ideal day would cap off with an episode of “The Office” playing while he worked on a jigsaw puzzle – a 1,000 piece puzzle to be exact.

Phil took every day as a gift. This steadfast approach to life remained true even during the spring of 2002 when he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Phil showed us all that you have to be willing to give up the life you planned, and instead, greet the life that is waiting for you. For twenty-one and a half years, Phil was selflessly volunteering himself and his body to receive countless clinical trials in his fight to defeat cancer. Despite the side effects, and limited knowledge for what would be on the other side, Phil continued to push forward and say “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”

Phil’s story is one that has chapters filled with perseverance, laughter, strength and the deepest of love. His story is carried on by the lives of his wife Carol, brother Greg, daughters Sara and Jessica, and his greatest source of joy, his granddaughter Nora.

A celebration of life will be held on October 14, 2023 at Scioto Park (7377 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH 43017) from 3:30pm-5:30pm. Memorial donations may be made in honor of Phil to the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.