Philip Joseph Devlin

Philip Joseph Devlin (August 6, 1934 – October 1, 2023), pilot, aviation expert, great husband, and good father was born to Joseph Devlin and Sara (McLaughlin) Devlin in Manhattan, New York. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Cynthia Marshall Devlin, and his four children Sara Reubel, (Alan) of Westhampton, NY; Leslie Reid, (Tommy) of Woodbury, NY; Jill Devlin of Venice, FL; and Sean Devlin, (Lori) of Lee’s Summit, MO. He grew up in Coram, Long Island before moving to New York City. Philip received his pilot’s license at 17 and he joined the Marine Corps after high school serving in the Korean War as a helicopter mechanic and pilot. He graduated from Farmingdale A&M with a mechanical engineering degree beginning his career in 1956 at Pan American World Airways in a variety of maintenance positions including Director of Quality Control for all engines shops in the system. He lived abroad in both Lima, Peru and Madrid, Spain and he also flew as a flight engineer, flying both cargo and passengers. Philip served in the Vietnam War from 1966-67 as a Sikorsky Skycrane pilot based at An Khe in the Central Highlands. During the rainy season he made doughnuts for the Army personnel. Flying his Sikorsky, he picked up injured soldiers and military equipment and dropped hospital units into battle zones. He taught Basic Aviation Mechanics and Air Frame at Nassau Technological Center during the 1980s. He left Pan Am for New York Air and when CEO Frank Lorenzo asked him to help merge that entity into Continental Airlines, he then went to work for Texas Air Corp. Philip assumed the position of Director of Jet Propulsion Engineering, among other positions he held throughout his tenure. Later asked by management to work at Continental Express, he became a Senior Director in Maintenance. He retired in 1999. As an FAA Designated Engineer he and his wife formed PJD Airworthiness Consultants, Inc. that same year and Philip continued traveling around the world inspecting aircraft all types, signing off on the airworthiness certificates. The company ceased operation at the end of 2020 because of Covid-19 Pandemic.

In 2008 the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association / SAE Institute honored Philip with the Aviation Maintenance Certification as a Subject Matter Expert. In 2010 he received the Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” award and the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award, among many other aviation honors.

As a patriot, he loved the Marine Corps and remained active in the Marine Corps League, the First Marine Division Association, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and he supported the Toys for Tots organization, and as well remained a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. While living the last 20 years on Chambers family farmland in East Texas, he enjoyed riding his John Deere tractor, working in his shop, taking care of his blueberry bushes and his fig tree, building bird nests, feeding fish in the pond, and cooking omelets on the weekends. He always expressed pride in the accomplishments of his adult children and grandchildren and always supported his wife in every way possible while she pursued her dreams. A mutual airline friends had introduced them in 1989 and they married March 1995. They enjoyed the company of many airline friends through the years. One of their favorite trips include a stay in a penthouse suite at the Paris Hilton overlooking the Eiffel Tower on Valentine’s Day. Their song was Happy Together by the Turtles. She implored him to visit every art museum in Paris, reluctant at first, he gradually began enjoying the experience and wondered where he would end up next. They enjoyed exploring archaeological sites in New Mexico, Colorado, Spain, France, and Sweden. They relished their trips to Toulouse, France while Philip conducted business on behalf of Continental at Airbus Industries. He loved seafood paella and ate it frequently when traveling. They discovered a little tucked-away French steak house where the meat dripped butter with every tender bite and a sip of red table wine topped it off. Still, his favorite part of any meal was dessert, and his favorite conversations include the word “airplane.” He considered himself an adopted Texan and felt at home in the state that had a long history that intrigued him. His mother-in-law, Janiece Chambers Marshall, shared all her spy novels with him, and he always had one in hand. His grandchildren included Zachary Reubel, Sean and Kevin Devlin and three granddaughters, Amanda Bradley, Devin Powers, and Katie Devlin; and two great-grandchildren, Madeleine and Aiden Bradley. Philip nurtured a strong mentoring relationship with Cynthia’s great nieces and nephews including Mae, Zola, and Charlotte; and Colton, Camden, Cade, and Jack. The boys, especially Jack, loved the John Deere tractor and claimed it when he was only two and one half years old. Colton and Jack, along with Cade and Camden will take over their Uncle Phil’s shop and keep his tractor running and his tools clean and in their place.

The family thanks Angelina Sanders of Visiting Angels of Lufkin along with special caretaker, Janet Shepherd for her year-long loving care. We thank Doctors, Hudson, Rowley, and Ho, along with the doctors and nurses at the Lufkin VA and the Heart Institute of Lufkin for their care. We also appreciate the good, caring efforts of Gentiva Hospice of Jasper, Texas. Candace, Benita, Tonya, and Shelby are much appreciated for their dedication to Philip’s wellbeing and their true compassion was ever-present. Cynthia thanks every member of her family and her close friends, especially Lanelle Edwards, for supporting Philip through his last days in Hospice.

Donations to Toys for Tots are preferred instead of flowers.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.