Phillip Ralph Blum passed away suddenly at 83 years old. He was born in Highland Park, MI on September 3, 1937. Phillip graduated from Rochester High School and went on to achieve his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University. He met the love of his life, Kendra and they married on July 12, 1963. Phillip began his teaching career at Pontiac Northern, specializing in Industrial Arts Education. After a short time, he found his way to Rochester Community Schools and taught Industrial Arts & Drafting at VanHoosen and later Rochester High School until retirement in 1998. He was active in many Industrial Art events showing off the incredible art his students created under his tutelage.
Before retirement, Phillip was an avid fisherman, any time of year, anywhere. He loved duck hunting and tried his hand at trapping, yielding beautiful results. He also enjoyed bowling on a league with the Friday Night Suburbanites.
After retirement, Phillip became very involved in Trap Shooting. He and Kendra would travel the country participating in as many ‘shoots’ as they could find. When they tired of tugging the 5th wheel all over the country, they switched up to a trailer on a lot in an RV Park in North Fort Myers, Florida and would winter there. They would summer at their cottage in Northern Michigan. Although home base was always in Oakland Township, Michigan.
Phillip loved to tinker in his garage, and could fix ANYTHING. He could also craft beautiful woodworking pieces & projects. Another of his favorite pastimes was enjoying his grandchildren. He was affectionally monikered “BEEPA” and saw to it to attend as many baseball & football games, band concerts, dance recitals & soccer games that he could.
Beepa joins his forever love, Kendra, who passed in 2016. He leaves behind two daughters, Kristin (Mark) McLaren of Rochester, MI and Danielle (Franz) Langegger of Ortonville, MI. Four grandchildren, Alex & Max McLaren, Sierra & Janine Langegger. His sisters, Caroline (David) Phelps and Christine Klein, as well as many nieces & nephews. He also leaves behind his best friend of 49 years, Jim Goodrich, and his fur babies, Riley & Phoebe.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a service will be held in late Spring/Summer of 2021 at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted to the Paint Creek United Methodist Church, or the Wounded Warriors Project.
