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A celebration of his life is being planned and will be announced at later date.
Ross Lincoln Phillippi of McMinnville, Oregon, died unexpectedly on January 2, 2022, from a heart condition. He was born on January 10, 1944 to Ross and Patricia Phillippi.
As a young child, Ross, along with his siblings Jon Phillippi and Jan Phillippi, was raised in the Westmoreland area until the family moved to their ranch in Glenwood Washington. Ross loved the ranch and spent many happy years living the ranch life. The family eventually moved back to Cedar Hills where he finished Junior High and then graduated from Sunset High School in 1962.
During his high school years, Ross became a skilled mechanic. His classmate and future wife, Terry Schumacher, remembers him taking the engine of his prized 1957 Chevy engine completely apart, cleaning every nut, screw and bolt, painting each part and putting the engine totally back together. He would drag race at “Mac”, the McMinnville race track during his teen years.
After High School Ross went to Northrop Institute of Technology in Inglewood, California where he received his Aircraft Maintenance and Power Plant license and a degree in engineering. He subsequently worked for United Airlines and then Electro Scientific Industries in Beaverton where his technical skills were put to good use.
During his life, Ross’s passion for aviation, and mechanics never waned. He owned three different airplanes and flew for enjoyment. Most of the time, he could be found in one of his two hangars taking apart cars, motorcycles, airplanes and rebuilding them.
When Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville bought Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose, Ross was a key player and instrumental in putting it back together again in Oregon. He was also one of three guys who spent a month at Edwards Air Force Base dismantling the SR-71, crating it, shipping it to the Evergreen Museum and then reassembling it. His expertise was recognized and lauded by all who worked with him. His knowledge of each display was impressive. His volunteer work at Evergreen was his hobby and passion and the work continued long after his retirement and until his death.
Ross lived his life to the fullest. He was an avid skier enjoying the slopes in both Oregon and Colorado with his brother Jon. They even skied together in Switzerland. He traveled the world and enjoyed exotic cruises with his former wife Lynda Phillippi.
His family and friends are deeply saddened by his sudden death. Those who knew Ross best were touched by his kindness, humility and quiet temperament. He was truly a gentleman. We will miss his shy smile, that knowing twinkle in his blue eyes and the delight he took in explaining the workings of everything with an engine.
He is survived by his brother Jon Phillippi (Joy), nephew Tyler Phillippi (Kassia) and Cousins, Hank Barton (Holly), Steve Barton (Sue) and Dana Cress (Scott) as well as his dear friend and companion Susan Gardner. Ross was predeceased by his mother and father, Ross and Patricia Phillippi and his sister Jan Phillippi.
A celebration of his life is being planned and will be announced at later date.
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Thomas William Lawson (Tad) McCall
Ross Phillippi was one of the nicest members of our class.. I am so sorry he has passed and send condolences and compassion to Terry and all Ross's family and friends.
Reading abiout Ross's life was a revelation. He was a remarkable person who clearly lived life fully and conteibuted to society in a way few of us could have. His passion for technology and flying sets his accomplishments apart and above. Sunset High School was lucky to have Ross in our student body. His story adds one more tribute attesting to the quality of the students in our student body.
Tad McCall
Terry Schumacher (Class Of '63)
This memory was sent to me by Gary Garrett from the class of '64. Gary's wife, Jill Linville Garrett, was a member of the class of '63.
Ross played a big part in my learning about engine building. Dates escape me, but I think it was sometime in '63 or '64 I bought a really nice yellow '53 Studebaker Speedster from Gregg Briggs (class of '63). The Studebaker had a flawless body, nice interior, etc., but didn't run. I paid $25.00 for this car! Ross rebuilt the V-8 engine in my folks garage. I served as parts chaser, wrench handler, parts cleaner, and funded the project with money from my part time job at ALBERTSON'S. This learning experienced has served me well with my hot rods over the years. I have never forgotten, and have been forever grateful to have had this time with Ross.
Laun Jay Carlin
Terry. Thanks for posting Gary.s most enlightening stories of Ross. Ross and I met at Cedar Hills grade school and then continued on to "Sunny Bunny High", as our nemesis and dastardly rival Beavers used to call us, until we beat them in footbal!. But I digress. Ross was a freind of mine, albeit not close, and I always enjoyed being around him, with his nice smile, good conversation and friendliness over six years.
If memmory serves, occasionally, the last time I saw Ross was at a Skyline Reunion and we had a pleasant conversation, not including his background which I was'nt aware of. But reading tonight of his accomplishments, just blows me away! And I second your comments, Tad. Ross will not be forgotten and maybe we'll even see him again upstairs. Launie
Laun Jay Carlin
....grinding gears up there in your '65 Chevelle!
Bill (William Thomas) Blank
I share the sentiments of other classmates. Ross was a remarkable person. I enjoyed him briefly as a new Cedar Hills student and as a SHS classmate. I found him a delightful former classmate at our monthly lunches, which we started to attend a few years ago, and I missed him and other classmates after Covid stopped the lunch meetings. To learn of his passing was a sad and shocking thing because while we knew how old we are, Ross seemed to be younger (see his photo) and had many years ahead. He is now gone, but it was a pleasure to know him. My best to his family.