Phillip David Jackson

Due to the Depression, the family headed to New Mexico and Phillip’s formative years took place in the hills above Red River and the moly mines. In high school, Phillip played the trombone and was the secretary and treasurer of FFA. He also worked at the local gas station servicing cars and helping out at the next door grocery.

After high school, Phillip enlisted in the Navy and served aboard USS Bon Homme Richard and USS Oriskany as an aviation structural mechanic Second Class during the Korean War. While in San Diego on liberty, Phillip would hitch hike back to Albuquerque to visit his family before returning to duty.

After serving his country, Phillip started working for Mountain Bell in Albuquerque and retired in Phoenix in 1990 after 35 years. During his career, he was a lineman, an installer, and ended up as a switch design engineer. While here, he met the camping group and his future bride, Helen, as a part of the Telephone company’s bowling team. He would tell us stories of installing phones at homes, prisons, and military installations across New Mexico and Arizona.

The next career he started was working for Albertsons where he began as a courtesy clerk and ended up becoming store 941’s fix-it handyman in charge of the safety committee. He worked here for 20 years before deciding to be a full-time grandpa.

During his lifetime, he always had active hands-on skills. If it was broken, he would fix it.

His hobbies were wildlife photography, fishing, camping, hiking, bowling, biking, running, and gardening. Before he was married, he took his Porsche on road trips to see the Indy 500, back and forth to San Diego. Later, the road trips became camper caravans to deep sea fishing trips to Mexico with his family and the Ma Bell Camping group.

Wherever he went, he was always helping others. Some of his volunteer help included being the van driver coordinator for Glendale First United Methodist Church, helping his kids’ Scout troops, coached and umpired the boys’ little league games, donated blood, and babysat his grandkids and grand dogs. His most recent hobby became shooing pigeons away from the pool.

Throughout his life, he treated people with kindness, always wanted to know how you were and smiled at them. He was humble and worried more about others. He loved to swap stories.

On November 2, 2021, Phillip rejoined his father and mother, brother Eugene and sisters Faye and Joyce while his wife was at his side.

Phillip is survived by his wife of 53 years, Helen, sisters Marge and Eunice, daughter Pamela, sons Patrick & wife Melissa, and Phillip & wife Beth, plus Phillip’s joy, his three grandchildren - Annaka, Payton, and Arden in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

An open house to celebrate his life with friends and family will take place on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Phillip and Beth’s house, 13777 W Vernon Ave, Goodyear, AZ, starting at noon to 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Phillip’s honor to Glendale First United Methodist Church.