Phillip Gordon Estes

SCOTTSDALE – Phillip Gordon “Phil” Estes, 72, died in his sleep at an assisted living apartment in Scottsdale in the late afternoon of Sept. 10.

He was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix March 20, 1947. Phillip was the first of three sons for Wilbur Calvin “Cal” and Mary Rose Elizabeth (Filchak) Estes.

He attended Kenilworth, Franklin and Longview elementary schools, Brophy College Preparatory and North Phoenix High School, and Phoenix and Mesa community colleges.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1966 and served with distinction through 1970. As an electronics/teletype and cryptographics equipment systems technician, he had assignments in Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, Cambodia and Laos. He was a staff sergeant when released from active duty.

After the Air Force, he used his training while working for a variety of companies, including Western Electric and Eastman Kodak. He also moonlighted, installing audio systems for restaurants, small businesses and large homes. Always generous with his time, he helped friends set up computer equipment and personal phone systems.

Phillip devoted considerable time to a number of volunteer efforts, including the board of directors for a cooperative in central Phoenix, and advisor/mentor for the Sea Cadets program. He was an avid gun collector and could be found at a shooting range honing his target practice skills.

He was predeceased by his father, mother, and brother, Edward Stephen. He is survived by his brother Mark, sister-in-law Odilia, sister-in-law Karen Estes (Edward), nephews Matthew (Nicole Cortes) and Samuel (wife Alejandra), nieces Anna Christina Estes-Werther (husband Christopher Werther), Roseanne (Joey Kemp), and Megan Banks (husband Michael Banks), and two great-nephews, Stephen and Daniel Banks.

Services were private. He is interred in the Veterans’ section at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery, joining his mother and father, and paternal grandmother and grandfather at Greenwood.