Philip Campbell Lenox, 88, lived a rich life of friendship, love and adventure. Born the youngest of five on Dec. 4, 1928, in Minneapolis, he was adored by his parents and siblings and got away with all sorts of mischief.
Phil was an avid fisherman, hunter, skier, gardener, classical music lover and choral music singer, wine maker, tennis, bridge and cribbage player. Having fun was Phil’s life focus.
He did manage to navigate academically attending West High where he was president of the January class of 1947, followed by Carlton College until he married the love of his life, Blue Bull, Dec. 22, 1950. Phil eventually finished his degree at the University of Minnesota.
Blue and Phil served in France during the Korean War calling their time in Azay-le-Rideau “a two year honeymoon.” Blue returned to Minneapolis in time to give birth to the first of their four children, Deborah. Later they settled on the west shore of Lake Independence with their children and a menagerie of animals. Phil took great joy in the surrounding woods, wetlands and lake, hunting for wild asparagus and mushrooms.
Phil worked for Bemis Co. for 37 years selling flexible packaging. He had one of his best months just before retiring at 62. Blue and Phil left Lake Independence in 1995, moving to Whidbey Island where they found delightful new friends. Here, they continued to enjoy gardening and plucking edibles from the sea and berries from the brambles.
They were frequent guests in Nuevo Vallarta , Mexico and other locales making friends wherever they went. His beloved Blue died in 2014 leaving Phil to reflect on their 63-year marriage. He wrote many musings of their life together. Since then, Phil learned to make sweet rolls and cookies sharing them with friends and swapping stories as he went.
His last summer was spent being cared for by a group of kind caregivers and his children who surrounded him with laughter and love, helping him to stay home with his sweet dog Bear. (We let him win all of his last games of cribbage.) Our dear father died of septicemia in Coupeville on Sept. 26, 2017.
He is survived by his children Deborah White and Jim Simas; John Lenox and Serena Hu, Mary Lenox and Robert “Gumby” Carlson, and Brook and Kelly Lenox, his five grandchildren Chib White (Faith), Sierra, Shaw, Graham and Shelby Lenox; two great grands Henri and Josephine White; as well as life-long friends: John, Ginny and Ralph.
Phil liked to tell people that one of his daughters said of him that he was not that bright, but extremely lucky and knew how to put his luck to good use. And, lucky he was! Please join his family in honor of Phil at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 at the Useless Bay Golf and Country Club. Lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to: WAIF, the Bayview Senior Center, Good Cheer or a charity of your choice.
