Philip Anthony Canton

Phil was born in Uniontown, PA and attended Uniontown High School and St. Vincent Prep School before being awarded a football scholarship to play first string for the West Virginia University Mountaineers. Phil played on the Mountaineer team four years, sometimes playing both offense and defense. One of his favorite memories was playing on the 1953-1954 WVU football team under Coach Arthur Everett “Pappy” Lewis. During his senior year, his team won the Southern Conference Championship for the first time and went on to later fight Georgia Tech in the 1954 Sugar Bowl.

After graduation from West Virginia University, he then attended the DT Watson School of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. Upon graduation from PT school, he was called to active duty as Lieutenant in the Infantry at Ft. Benning, GA. After infantry school he was selected to join the Army Medical Specialist Corp to practice Physical Therapy. Phil was a trailblazer and a dedicated officer throughout his 20 year Military career. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and retired from the Army at the rank of Lt. Col as the Director of Physical Therapy at the Ireland Army Hospital at Ft Knox, Ky. He then established the first Physical Therapy clinic at Hardin Memorial Hospital where he was well respected by the doctors, employees of the hospital, and his devoted staff.

Phil leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Frances Canton, his beloved daughter Mary Clair Tuttle and husband David Tuttle, grandchildren Robert David Tuttle of Dallas, TX and Mary Elizabeth Tuttle of New York City. Phil is survived by his cherished sister Rosemary DiMarco, brother-in-law Angelo DiMarco, and niece Gina DiMarco of White Oak, PA.

Burial with full military honors will be held at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX. Donations in his memory can be made to Hosparus of Central Kentucky, P.O. Box 35425, Louisville, KY 40232-9892.