Phillip Cornelius Sullivan

Phil had a love for farming and always had a garden in the backyard. He loved attending and participating in all of his grandchildren’s school and sporting events, including fi lming high school sports games for the high school his children attended. He was their number one fan, leaving a little room for Notre Dame, his second favorite. He printed out the football team schedule every year and shared it with his grandsons; he also made time to watch the games together with his son Philip as often as he could. He loved animals, and the family always had pets, primarily dogs, but for Phil, most recently a cat, Snickers.

But what he loved the most were family get-togethers. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, you name it, and he was trying to plan some kind of gathering for a meal. He was always cutting the turkey at Thanksgiving; it was his thing, or grilling whatever food we had chosen for the summer get-together. He could sit and talk with you for hours and never get bored. He could’ve been the champion of Trivial Pursuit if he wanted to, since he was fi lled with all kinds of information, whether it be sports, politics, or anything in between; he could provide the insight. He loved learning something new, no matter who was teaching.

He had a unique laugh, and his grandsons loved to crack jokes with him to get him rolling, and he would always joke right back at them.

Phil was an exceptionally loving, charismatic, and caring human being. He was firm at times, showing that military background of his, but he always had a strong backbone and support system for anyone who knew him or was close to him. He was the definition of a family man, and that’s how he lived.

Phillip (Phil) C Sullivan, 86, passed away in Camp Hill, peacefully on Sunday, November 23, 2025, surrounded by family. He was born July 26, 1939, in Manhattan, NY, to the late Philip and Theresa Sullivan. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Diane J (Bradley) Sullivan; 5 children: Philip Sullivan (Julie) of Lancaster, Laurie Sklar (John) of York Haven, Susan Chapman of Camp Hill, Timothy Chapman of New Cumberland, and Richard Chapman (Joann) of Harrisburg; several grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Phil was preceded in death by all of his siblings: John, Theresa, Mary, and Eleanor.

Phil was a proud Navy veteran who served honorably from 1958 to 1965. He retired from the Federal Government after many years of dedicated service in Connecticut and, fi nally, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the American Legion, where his son Tim attended in his honor.

Phil’s family will be celebrating his life privately.

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