Philip Thomas Edgar

Philip Thomas Edgar, 94, passed away on October 9, 2020 at Morningview Assisted Living Residences in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife Barbara by his side.

He was born to Thomas and Georgia (Gaff) Edgar in Royal Oak, Michigan on August 10, 1926.

Phil’s senior year in high school was interrupted by a 2-year stint in the US Army during WWII. He spent part of this time on the island of Saipan. He eventually graduated in 1947 from Cedar Lake Academy in Edmore, MI.

Phil met and married Betty Jane Snyder at the Ferndale Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ferndale, MI on June 26, 1949. They moved to Madison, TN so he could attend Madison College technical school. After Karen Ann was born there, they returned to Royal Oak, MI and later moved to Troy, MI. Kevin Andrew and Keith Armon were added to the family.

Phil and Betty were very involved in the Troy Seventh-day Adventist Church, especially in children’s ministries. His lifelong dedication to the Pathfinder Ministries was demonstrated in the roles of leader, counselor, helper, and instructor- specifically in the honor badge for string art. String art became a lifelong hobby which he continued to do into his late 80’s, despite his macular degeneration. He made and gave away many personalized string art book marks. In addition to string art, Phil was an avid photographer. Phil also worked with the Warren SDA Church Pathfinder club, the SE Trailbazers and was inducted into the Michigan Conference of SDAs Pathfinder Hall of Fame in 1995.

Camping was always a big part of Edgar family life. In addition to numerous Pathfinder campouts, there were MI Conference traveling family camps to Lake Superior and the Black Hills of South Dakota. There were Edgar family vacations spent at state parks and national parks in the US and Canada. Phil and Betty spent four weeks one summer at Camp Au Sable in Grayling, MI as the Wilderness Camp sponsors. There was also the annual 10 day campout better known as Grand Ledge Campmeeting.

After Betty passed away in 2006, Phil met and married Barbara Tand on December 9, 2012. They enjoyed living in Lansing, Michigan and attended the Lansing Seventh-day Adventist Church. They also enjoyed attending alumni reunions for Cedar Lake Academy and Southern Adventist University and attending campmeeting at Great Lakes Adventist Academy. They had two birds, Sunshine and Lemon Drop, who entertained and enriched their lives. Phil and Barbara were known for their matching shirts. They moved to South Bend, Indiana in 2018.

Phil was preceded in death by his first wife, of 57 years, Betty; his parents, Thomas and Georgia Edgar; and his sister, Elizabeth (Betsy) Mathers.

Phil is survived by his second wife, Barbara; his daughter, Karen (David) Fishell; sons: Kevin (Julie) Edgar and Keith (Joanne) Edgar; and stepsons: John (Kelly) Arena and Tim (Heather) Arena. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Ashleigh (Nathan) Krehbiel, Alison Fishell, Dawn (James) Hood, Jason Edgar, Joshua (Charity) Edgar, Jordan Edgar, and Joel (Samantha) Edgar. In addition, he is survived by eight great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the wonderful Hospice nurses at Heart to Heart Hospice, especially Karri who FaceTimed with his daughter in Colorado so she could talk to Phil in his last days.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date; private inurnment. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Adventist Youth Ministries Museum (www.aymmuseum.org), In Battle Creek, MI, in memory of Philip T. Edgar.