Phillip Charles Gregory

Phil Gregory passed away on November 5, 2025, in North Richland Hills, Texas, following complications with Myas-thenia Gravis. His life was a celebration of 83 years. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas on April 19, 1942, to Doris and Charlie Gregory. Even so, he considered his home to be Carlsbad, New Mexico, where he grew up, graduated from High School, and lived most of his life.

As a child, he was active in scouts and at age 12 he became one of the youngest to receive the Eagle Scout Award. He also earned the God and Country Medal and later served as a counselor at Philmont Scout Ranch. He was a Thunderbird Dancer and enjoyed a lifelong love of New Mexico, Native American culture and Southwest history. Phil was innovative, creative, and problem-solving in all aspects of his life. He thrived on a challenge and once, as a teenager, he bought a Model A car and drove it home sitting on an apple crate. This sparked a life-long love of owning and working on old cars. Phil married his High School sweetheart, Virginia White, in 1962. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on August 18th. To-gether they enjoyed a life of music, art, travel and family.

At New Mexico State University, Phil pursued a degree in Mechanical engineering, served in the ROTC, and participated in work/study as a Graduate Assistant instructor of drafting, welding, and machine shop operations. After graduation, he moved to Port-land, Oregon, where he worked for OMARK Industries as a Design Engineer for Industrial Concrete Saws. Phil moved to Massachusetts to pursue an MBA at Clark University. He started his own business and applied for several patents for Gregory Saw and Engineering Corporation. In 1971, he became the Chief Financial Officer for the Union Industrial Cor-poration in Carlsbad, New Mexico. His creative problem-solving nature led him to open Desman Concrete Saws and Machine Shop. After selling Union Industrial and purchasing Basco Chemical Supply Company, he began working for WIPP as the Project Manager for Transportation Packaging at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Phil contributed to his pro-fessional community by serving as Vice-President of the Institute for Regulatory Science and provided testimony before the US Congress on several occasions. In 2001, Phil and Ginny ventured into business together and ran the Blue House Bakery and Café for 12 years. The success of the Blue House was noted in multiple travel guides, but more importantly to Phil, it became a commitment to small town life as a gathering hub for family 4th of July celebrations and lazy afternoons on the porch swing.

Phil served as a Deacon and an Elder of the Carlsbad Presbyterian Church, where he devoted time

and energy to the church in which he grew up, attended, and where he married and renewed wedding vows. His faith was an integral part of all he did. Phil lived his life with a passion for reading. He believed his library card was a prized possession and a passport to adventure. As a Renaissance man, he brought his passion to life in his conversations, interactions and community service merging art, education, music, literature, and history. He served as a board member of the Carlsbad Museum. After being chosen to travel with a Rotary Exchange team to England, he returned to Carlsbad and became an active Rotarian. Beyond the business exchange, he stepped up to serve as the President. The principles of Rotary made a profound impact on Phil. Over the years, he and his family hosted many exchange students and Phil inspired his own two children to travel abroad as Rotary Exchange Students. Phil found a special place in his life for photography. The technical aspects and skill required fueled him to capture many award-winning shots. In the early 80’s, he began his adventures in sailing. In true Phil Gregory fashion, he learned everything he could about the sport. He read books and traveled extensively to regattas to improve. He participated in multiple Hobie Cat National and World Championships. The thrill of harnessing the wind, navigating waters, mastering the physics of boating, tying knots and managing the challenge of the white capped waters gave him an athletic outlet and he combined this sport with camping and traveling to share with his family.

Phil is survived by Ginny, his loving wife of 63 years, his daughter, Lisa, his son, Scott and wife, Jeanne, his brother Robert and wife, Kathy, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

The memorial service will be held at the Carlsbad First Presbyterian Church Saturday, January 17th at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Phil’s memory to the Phillip and Virginia Gregory Charity Fund to benefit the Carlsbad Museum. Please mail to Carlsbad Community Foundation, 114 S Canyon St, Carlsbad, NM 88220