Philip Joseph Cappadonia, 84, of La Grange, Kentucky, passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Born on February 28, 1940, in Dansville, New York, to the late Philip Frank and Mary Lucille (Barron) Cappadonia, Phil lived a life rich in love and family.
After high school, Phil attended Erie County Technical College in Buffalo, NY, earning an associate's degree in metallurgy. He volunteered for the draft and served from 1962-1964 in the United States Army. Stationed at Fort Knox, where he was assigned to the medical research lab. While at Fort Knox, he met and fell head over heels for Regina Sue Minor. They were married on May 21, 1964, and started their family.
After Phil's service in the Army, the couple moved to Provo, UT, so he could attend Brigham Young University (BYU), where he graduated with his bachelor's and master's degrees in Recreation Education. During his schooling, he and Regina had four beautiful children. They later moved to Perrysburg, NY, where they settled for five years to be closer to his mom and sisters. In 1976, they moved their family to Visalia, CA, where Phil received his special education teaching credential and began his teaching career, retiring in 2006 from teaching the GED at the California State Prison, Corcoran.
Phil loved all sports, especially basketball, following in his sister Lois' footsteps. Phil was an avid sports fan and enjoyed playing church basketball and city league softball. After graduating from BYU, the Cougars became his most loved college team, and he watched or attended as many games as he could. Everywhere he lived, he would find a group of friends to gather and watch the BYU games.
Phil made many friends and created lifelong friendships and memories. He was loved by many due to his easy going personality and his love for cooking and feeding others. He never met an enemy and was a friend to the friendless. Phil joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1964 and served in various volunteer callings within the church, from teaching 3-year-old Sunbeams to overseeing a congregation (ward). His two favorite church responsibilities were being Ward Mission Leader, where he worked with missionaries to teach about the Gospel and brought people to our Savior Jesus Christ. His loving and welcoming traits made it easy for people to want to learn more, accept their Savior, and make covenants to return to their Heavenly Father. His second was working at the church's humanitarian grape farm, picking and turning grapes for raisins as a row captain in 105-degree weather.
Phil is preceded in death by his sweet grandsons, Preston and Jeshua Chace, and his loving sister, Lois Scorsone. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 60 years, Regina Minor Cappadonia;
his children, Philip Jay Cappadonia (Becky), Kimberli Rappleye (Dale), Michele Rasner (Juan), and Ann Marie Chace (Mark); 20 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Ann Fuller and Diane Walton (Larry) And Nieces and Nephews. Phil’s extended family and friends will also remember him fondly.
A celebration of Phil's life will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 6401 Westwind Way, Crestwood, KY 40014, with a visitation from 10 am until the start of the service. If you are unable to celebrate Phil in person, please join the family via the zoom link provided: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84647808436?pwd=FQUHlf2Hnrdp0jvtcRxfuCR1yG40vb.1 Burial will follow on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Noon at Marion County Old Liberty Cemetery, 5685 KY-1157, Lebanon, KY 40033.
Phil's legacy of love and kindness will be carried on by his family and all who knew him.
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