Edwin's Legacy of Longevity

Edwin Phillips had a real sense of the word “longevity”. Not many people LIVE that word – especially today. I wanted to make note of a memory of a man who lived with purpose – and that purpose was in large part based on longevity.

When Dad was in the U. S. Naval Academy, there was one degree and one degree only – naval engineering. Degrees in philosophy, humanities, languages, or others were not available when Dad attended. EVERYONE took the SAME courses throughout their four years at the Academy. There was no ‘menu’ of choices. He graduated, and for the remainder of his years, my Dad was and remained a naval engineer. Statistics tell us that we will change careers at least five times during our lifetime. My Dad was a true example of longevity – he never changed careers. He was among the most renowned naval engineers throughout his career. While the tools of his profession evolved from slide rules to super computers, his career remained the same. Longevity in his chosen career.

My Dad married June and stayed married to June until the day he passed away. He loved her – adored her! - and that love never, ever faded. Longevity in his marriage.

He stayed in the same town and same house for over 30 years. He loved that house and that town and never wanted to leave. Junie continued to remodel and update and keep the house beautiful as new area codes, new highways, new shopping centers and large living communities replaced fields and pastures -- but Dad’s address never changed. Longevity in where he lived.

He converted to Catholicism when he met my mother. He remained a good, faithful Catholic servant who attended church, lived his faith and was prayerful as long as he was able. He remained a Catholic until the day he died. Longevity in his faith.

He took on projects such as model ship building (previous post), bonsai, fishing (he was always the last in the family to pull up his line), and completed puzzles – a cryptogram expert and solver of many crosswords - things that take patience and thinking…and more patience. Longevity in his hobbies.

Our current generation – including my own - has no clue what this word really demands. My Dad did. He knew all good things take time. This is but one part of his legacy. Longevity.