Philip Taber, Jr. passed away peacefully on April 4, 2018. He was born on October 5, 1923 in Freeport, New York, the son of Erna C. Taber and Philip Taber. Phil attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and the University of Arizona where he played polo and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was a WWII naval pilot and was among a few selected to fly night missions. He met his lovely bride of 72 years at the UofA, they lived in exotic places such as Bisbee, Chandler and Casa Grande until they settled in Paradise Valley. Phil and Phyllis both served their church, community and family. Phil liked to say he was President of two country clubs and one cotton gin. The Paradise Valley Country Club, The Casa Grande Valley Country Club and the Sunset Cotton Gin in Casa Grande. He was also a member of the Valley Field Riding and Polo Club. He is survived by his sister, Betty Bottler of Seattle, his children Nancy Pilkington of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ann Preston of Flagstaff, Arizona, Molly Graham of Atlanta, Georgia, John Taber of Tucson, Arizona and 9 grandchildren. Philip Taber was predeceased by his wife, Phyllis J. Taber and son Philip Taber III. Phil was the last of the “true cowboys” and spent many years managing 20,000 head of cattle in New Mexico and West Texas. His love for horses and the sport of racing produced many winners on such tracks as Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. For almost 50 years, Phil enjoyed his fishing cabin in Rocky Point, Mexico where he was fondly referred to as Fuego Phil. The family would like to sincerely thank Hettie Roberts and Jolanta Latusek for the beautiful care and commitment they made to our father. There will be a private family interment for Phil on Friday, April 13, 2018 with a Celebration of Life beginning at 11:30 A.M. at Paradise Valley Country Club, 7101 N. Tatum Blvd, Paradise Valley. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Hospice of the Valley, Hospice of the Valley Fund Development, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 and St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church, 6715 N. Mockingbird Lane, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. Arrangements entrusted to Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.
Ricki Dee Jennings
To Ann, Nancy, molly and John.
I am so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. So many wonderful memories from our childhoods involving the Taber family! What a wonderful legacy he and your mom left to our community and to all those they touched over the years. He and your mom will always be smiling at their wonderful family!
I will be out of town for the celebration of life but will surely take a few moments that day to celebrate and honor a wonderful man.
Much love
Ricki Dee
Susie & Jack Daliere
A true gentleman, we will miss him.
Harley Barnes
Phil was such a delightful gentleman, and very generous about sharing those delicious shrimp he would bring back from Rocky Point! I truly enjoyed playing golf with him and hearing stories about his life. I will miss him.
Susan Stander
John,
Paul and I want to express our sympathy for the loss of your dad. He was a true gentleman, and a lovely neighbor. And despite what the Dos Equis commercials claim, HE was the most interesting man in the world!
Blessings to you and your family,
Susan and Paul Stander
Daniel & Ruth Slattery
John and family,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.
Daniel & Ruth Slattery
Janet Stacy
Sending my heart felt condolences to the Tabor family. Sending you all heart felt blessing.
Kim Hester
To the family,
OMG, this journey is over. On to the next life after parent’s. I really enjoyed my time with both of your parents.
Love all of you!
The only people that are happy about this are all of the friends in heaven waiting for him!!!
See you later in April
Kim Hester
Margie Jason
To the Entire Taber Family
What a Special Gentelmen your Dad was.
I will always feel so Blessed to have known
Such a fine , gregarious man.
Much Love to all
bet and gordon joy
john, never had the pleasure of meeting your mom and dad, but they had to be exceptional folks to issue such a son as you.
accept very much love from gordon and me, as you grieve your dad’s death.
our blessings to julie, ella, gracie and your family as you go through this passage.
bet and gordon
Claude Brown
To all the Taber family,
We would like to express our sincere sympathy to all of you as you mourn the loss of Phil. As a member of “The Greatest Generation”, Phil truly lived an adventure to remember, and has left all of you and his many friends with so many beautiful memories. May they bring smiles through the tears, and may your hearts be forever filled with gratitude that you were able to share life on this earth with this very special person.
Holding you close in thought & prayer,
Dorothy, Claude & Carolyn Brown
Jenifer Fowler
I am so very sorry for your loss John and family. The PVCC guys are now gathered together, what a party up there!
Catherine Chamberlain
John, Molly, Nancy and Ann,
There is truly a space left void in my life that was filled with your mom and dad. The time, talks and sharing are sorely missed. While mom and I could talk away for hours, it took finding our mutual interest in books to get your dad talking but once started, his stories of military service, horses, politics and fishing were book worthy on their own. He was a real man of the greatest generation, and well loved. I will never forget him on the news show about what to do about the ‘rock bandit’, and he just said “hang ‘im”, and walked back to golfing!
Love and prayers
Cathy Chamberlain
Mike Ham
John, I only met your dad only once but he struck me as the type of man I wish I had known throughout my life. The recounting of his life read like something out of the history books…what a man !! I can’t imagine how proud of him you must be. What an honor it would have been to have known him. I know you will miss him. My thoughts are with you.
Sincerely, mike
Lauren Rosenberg
Mr. Taber was a great man and the patriarch of the most wonderful family, whom I have been blessed to know and love most of my life.
John and Kelly Hester
Johnny & Family
My condolences to you & the Family. Boy did we have fun growing up with our parents …. Phil is in a better place now … He may be gone but he will never be forgotten… Sending thoughts & Prayers … If you need any help let me know . Rest In Peace Phil .
Sincerely
John & Kelly Hester
Ben & Karen Baker
Taber Family
We have known Phil so long it seemed like he would always be there at the beach.
He will be in spirit though sorely missed.