Alvin H. Philpot

Alvin Homer Philpot (Al), 89, went home to be with the Lord on January 21, 2025 after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in November 2024. He was born in McEwen Tenn. on February 27, 1935. Al married Margaret “Gayle” Jones in 1952 in Covington, KY.

Al started working at the age of six doing farm work and picking cotton to help his family who was living in an area harshly hit by the unforgiving depression. Al’s father (Homer) found work in Savannah TN. at a TVA dam where six-year-old Al found plenty of work in the cotton fields. He survived a tornado touchdown in a cotton field by wrapping his arms around a tree and was lifted off the ground. His family then moved to Akron during WWII where Homer went to work at Goodyear and Al went to work for Lawsons Milk Company. He then worked for a hardware store and learned many useful lifetime skills.

At the onset of the Korean War, Al was enrolled in a naval-civilian program at Goodyear Aerospace as a riveter and fabricator of sheet metal parts for naval helicopters and learned core tradesman skills. After the war he worked at Brown and Graves lumberyard in South Akron, and it was while working there that he received a job offer at the newly opened Ford Motor Company in Walton Hills, Ohio in 1954. Al hired in as a production worker then moved into a die-setter position at the stamping plant. In 1968 he completed a 18 month welder certification program at Lincoln Electric in Cleveland. He graduated with the highest marks at Lincoln and was automatically offered a job for the supernumerary student. Al graciously declined the offer and would later bid into the Welding gang at Ford. He trained many apprentices and would form long lasting kinship with them. Foremost his favorite was his first apprentice and first “plant son” Rick Orrill who stood by Al and our family through the very end.

He completed 42 years at Ford and upon retiring in February 1996 he commenced on a twenty-nine-year retirement. Al rebuilt his nearly 200-year-old barn from the new foundation to all rough sawn oak flooring and additions. Al always had a “project” that he was working on which we believe contributed to his longevity. Many improvements to his land and woods were painstakingly done by Al and others because he always said he “wanted to leave his place in a better condition than he found it”.

Al was a real wit and humorist and had lots of funny and entertaining stories that he shared with us all. Many thought his philosophic intellect combined with wry sparkle was a mix of Abe Lincoln and Harry Truman. He also had fun in retirement with making maple syrup, beer, wine, cider, and moonshine. He hosted some new friends from New Zealand and helped them establish a business of exporting used bourbon barrels from Kentucky and sending the barrel wood down under for repurposing in brewing stores.

Al was a member of the local UAW local 420 and Portage-Summit County CAP council for 60 years. Al transported hundreds of 4-H children and their horses all over Portage County. He became a proud member of the Garrettsville Eagles in his 80’s.

Alas, Al’s retirement did have some difficult times as his wife Gayle developed Alzheimer’s in the mid 2000’s. He supported his wife and cared for her by fighting the fight against this disease.

Al is proceeded in death by his wife Gayle Philpot (2012), his oldest daughter Alisa Osdyke (1994), and sister Geraldine Conard (2011.)

Al is survived by his children Robert (Rebecca) Philpot of Garrettsville, Rebecca (Kelly) Philpot of Rootstown, John Philpot of Ravenna and Aimee Conroy (David) of Rootstown. Grandsons, Ethan aka “precious” Conroy, of Rootstown and Owen aka “wonderful” & (Marissa) Conroy of Omaha, Nebraska. Nieces Debbie (Dave) Reusser of Kent and Pam (Bill) Lowry of Stow.

Private family services have been held and interment next to his wife at Maple Grove Cemetery has taken place.

Condolences and memories can be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com