Phillip Benjamin Carey

Phillip Benjamin Carey, 82, "fell into the arms of Jesus" on Sunday morning, October 29, 2017. Phil was born on Sunday April 21, 1935, in Sidney, Ohio, the son of Orbison and Laneda (Werst) Carey. His childhood home was near a river and a golf course, so he developed an early love for fishing and just being near a stream, and for the game of golf. He became an Eagle Scout at the early age of sixteen. Phil graduated from Sidney High School in 1953, and enrolled at Ohio State University that fall.

While at OSU he met the, "catch of his life", Gwen Arlene Suver. They were married in a small church in Donnelsville, Ohio, on May 1, 1960. Also while at OSU he joined the Army National Guard. In training he won the coveted honor of his Battalion's Recruit of the Year contest. He later served in the Indiana Guard Reserve for thirteen years. He graduated from OSU with a BS in Business and went to work with Hallmark Greeting Cards, and the newlyweds began married life in Richmond, Indiana. In 1963 they moved to Muncie, Indiana, and Phil went back to college earning a BS and MA in Business Education at Ball State University. He became an employee of the Muncie Community Schools and was teacher and tennis coach at Southside High School. He wrote the Cooperative Office Education Program for the schools and for many years facilitated the program at all three high schools. In the summers he helped organize and run a recreation program for children at neighborhood schools. He retired from Central High School in 1994 where he was the on the floor, "voice of the Bearcats."

Phil was a good man. He was a faithful, devoted, loving husband and father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Phil had a great sense of humor and always a story to tell. He had many good friends.

Phil was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where he sang in the choir for over 50 years. He was known to the young children there as the "magic elbow" and to all as the man who wore the red, green, blue and yellow color block cords at Christmas, as he encouraged members to sign up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. "You'll be cold in your toes but warm in your heart".

Phil loved gardening and for many years raised every vegetable his family ate. He encouraged others to garden and one year there were eleven gardens in the vacant lot behind the house. Thirty-seven children were well fed from those gardens. Also he loved woodworking, crafting candles, sconces, pens of exotic woods, vases and whimsical reindeer. Phil was an avid fly fisherman tying all his own flies; favorite haunts were the Pere Marquette in Michigan, where he joined others in September for the "Quest for Salmon" and Talkeetna, AK.

With travel privileges on Delta Airlines, going other places near and far were a joy and an adventure. Gwen was the designated tour guide. The family also enjoyed camping and helped others experience the joy of Fort Wilderness Campground, WDW, at spring break and Lutheran Hills in Brown County in the spring and fall.

Phil loved his family dearly and left them with wonderful memories and a strong faith foundation. They know who they are as children of God. His friends were dear to him; his life was blessed.

He leaves behind his wife, Gwen, daughter Jane (husband Blair) Pohlman, son Steven (wife Deenen Schaub), daughter Anne (husband Steve) Wuthrich, and son Matthew. Grandchildren include Blake (wife Elizabeth Estes), Bradley, and Brice Wuthrich; Lacey Pohlman; and Megan Carey, and great granddaughter Ava Grace Wuthrich.

There to greet him are his parents and a granddaughter, Emily Pohlman.

In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Salvation Army, 1015 Wheeling Ave, Muncie, Indiana 47303 and/or Christian Ministries of Delaware County, P.O. Box 1088, Muncie, Indiana 47305

Memorial services will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 900 W. White River Blvd., Muncie, Indiana. Family and friends visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.