Phillip Tandy Markwood

Phillip Tandy Markwood, known to his family as Papa Phil, was called home by his Heavenly Father to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Having loved the Lord, and endeavored to serve him for the entirety of his life, we are confident he was received with the words “well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Phil was born on August 2, 1937, in Louisville, Kentucky to Chester Ray and Mary Elizabeth (Tandy) Markwood. Originally from a series of small towns in Kentucky, New York State and Indiana, Phil and his family moved to Upper Arlington when he was in the eighth grade. His father was a country doctor, devoted to public health, drawn to Columbus, Ohio by the work being done to cure tuberculosis.

When Phil was at Upper Arlington High School, involved in music, student government and playing sports, he knew two things were certain about his life; he would one day be an architect, and he would marry his sweetheart, Joan, known to her family as Noni.

After graduating in 1955, Phil left Upper Arlington to study architecture at Princeton University, where he also ran track and was a member of the Tower Club. After earning his Bachelor of Architecture from Princeton in 1959, he returned home to marry Joan on December 27, 1959. Continuing his education, he obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree at The Ohio State University in 1960. Phil and Joan then moved to New York City where Joan worked to support Phil while he completed his studies receiving his Masters in Architecture from Columbia University in 1962.

When Joan became pregnant, they moved back to Upper Arlington where they welcomed daughter Megan, and 15 months later, son Matt. Phil worked at Kellam & Foley Architects until he founded his namesake firm, Phillip Markwood Architects, Inc. (PMA) in 1973, where he practiced for 47 years until retiring at age 82 in 2020.

During his years as President of PMA, the firm distinguished itself through excellence in the practice of architecture in a wide scope of projects, including religious, educational, institutional, office, commercial and residential projects for public and private clients. Phil was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1990, a lifetime honor recognizing contributions that advance the profession. In 1994, Phil received the AIA Ohio Gold Medal, the chapter’s most prestigious award. Phil was certainly appreciative of his personal and professional successes but his heart for service was evidenced by his leadership in local, state and national organizations. These activities included presidencies of AIA Columbus, AIA Ohio, and the Upper Arlington Community Improvement Corporation, as well as National Board Director, Vice President and Ethics Committee Chair of AIA. Phil was also a faithful member of the Upper Arlington Rotary.

During the firm’s 47 years existence, Phil was always designing a faith-related project. He described his passion for church design as follows: “I gravitate towards church work for two reasons. I am a believer, so I get a chance to work for ‘The Big Client’ while working for His servants and I get to create spaces that touch the spirit. We’re all spiritual beings and churches are places that prepare you for your own experience with God.” He said he found that what he was doing was bigger than the project, the people and himself and that the main authority is God. He always felt like he was working for Him.

Those who knew Phil recognized him as a man of humility, patience, kindness, and selflessness. He was a deep thinker, a wise counselor, and a committed man of faith. He connected with people through compassionate listening, always more interested in learning about others than talking about himself. He led a purposeful life evidenced by a deep devotion to wife and family, commitment to his relationship with Jesus and studying His word with close friends for years, and application of his God-given abilities to create enduring spaces to enjoy life and worship. And if he was at a gathering where a prayer was required, he was inevitably asked to speak, as he was also informally known as Pastor Phil to many.

Phil is preceded in death by his father and mother, Chester Ray and Mary Elizabeth (Tandy) Markwood, aunt Nancy Markwood, father and mother-in-law Tom and BJ (Martin) McCullough, brother-in-law Bob McCullough and sister-in-law Jane Gerlach.

Phil is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Megan Pfister (Mark), son Matt (Beth); grandsons Tyler Pfister (Olivia), Jackson Pfister (Alison), Wes Markwood (Elena), and Aaron Markwood; great grandchildren Tatum, Finley, Levi, Josie and Macy Pfister; JJ and Sadie Pfister. Also survived by brothers Steve (Susan) and Henry (Julie Anne); sister-in-law Dee McCullough; nephews Jimmy Gerlach, Scott Gerlach (Kyle), Andy Gerlach (Christy), Bob Gerlach (Susan), Mike McCullough, Tom McCullough (Jill), Chris Markwood (Jenny); nieces Kathryn Ochampaugh (Kyle), Merry Milliken (Steve), Jill Payne (Stacy), and Sara Beth Markwood (Matt).

Please join the family for a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 -2:00 pm with the family receiving friends from 2:00-4:00 pm Saturday, January 3, 2025 at First Community Church North, 3777 Dublin Road, Columbus Ohio 43221.

The family would very much appreciate you visiting “Add a Memory” and sharing your favorite memory of Phil, or the impact he had on your life.