Philip Price

Outgoing and compassionate, Philip Price sought out ways to make life better for those around him. He worked hard to care for his loved ones and would sacrifice whatever was necessary to make sure they had what they needed. His generous nature reached beyond his immediate family, as he took time to listen and talk to everyone he came in contact with. Philip’s kind deeds and selfless acts were an inspiration to those that knew and loved him.

As the United States was celebrating a time of temporary peace and prosperity between the two world wars, Walter and Margaret (Fleet) Price of Grand Rapids, Michigan had a celebration of their own with the birth of their son, Philip, on February 27, 1924. Philip grew up on the west side of Grand Rapids on Scribner Street with his 4 sisters and 3 brothers. To support their large family, his father earned a living as a tool and die maker, while his mother was a busy homemaker.

As a young boy, Philip contracted polio and had to go to the hospital regularly for treatment. They could not afford the extra expense of his mother riding along to the hospital with him, so she would put him on a bus and the driver told him when to get off, where nuns were waiting for him. It took Philip along time to completely recover from the polio, so his mother home schooled him until he was 10. He then attended St. Anthony’s School until the 8th grade. Philip was also an altar boy at St. Anthony's for a while. Like many families, the Prices were not exempt from the hardships of the Great Depression. They were already pretty poor so the depression only made things that much harder for them. To put food on the table, they would often drive out to relatives to pick fresh vegetables.

Although Philip was not old enough to enlist in the Army, he lied about his age so he could serve and in turn, send money home to his family. During his tour of duty, he served in the Medical Battalion in North France, Rhineland and Central Europe. After his honorable discharge, he returned home to Grand Rapids, and it wasn’t long before fate brought Dorothy Graves into his life. Philip met Dorothy “Gert” at the Plantation in 1945, and they soon began dating. Over the next 4 years, their love for each other blossomed and they were happily married on July 6, 1949. After a romantic honeymoon on Mackinaw Island, the newlyweds made their first home together on Big Crooked Lake in Parnell.

Philip was the proud father of four children: Jim, Sharon, Diana and Carla. He loved being a father and would do anything for his children. Yet, he also made sure to teach them the importance of responsibility and of working hard. Caring and attentive, Philip wanted his children to be happy, to be good people, and to know that they were loved.

Besides being a devoted husband and father, Philip was a good provider. Over the years, he held a variety of jobs, including as a bartender on Michigan Street. For many years, Philip owned and operated a supermarket in McBride called Phil’s Supermarket, which was well known for his butchered meat. He was very generous to the community and often opened the doors to the store at odd hours so people could get milk and food, sometimes at no cost. However, when his wife, Gert, became ill with Emphysema, Philip closed the store in order to take care of her. Sadly, she died on April 11, 1983. The job Philip held the longest and enjoyed the most was as a taxi driver. He was one of the first owners of Veteran Taxi Cab, and he drove for over 40 years. It was only natural that after all this time he experienced much with his customers and had countless stories to tell. He was such a great storyteller that no one minded hearing the stories over again.

A true family man, Philip’s happiest moments always involved the time he spent with his wife, children and grandchildren, whom he adored. He babysat for his grandkids whenever needed, and he never came to visit without a bag of goodies to share. Like his own children, Philip instilled in his grandkids the value of hard work by allowing them to “work” for him for some extra money. Philip was always lending a helping hand wherever he could. Even after he stopped driving his cab, Philip still took people to the doctors and to run errands. He even took several trips to Las Vegas, but not to gamble, rather just to take someone on a special trip. Philip always beamed with joy when he received a thank you card for his efforts and he kept every one of them to look back at, especially those from his special niece, Margaret Mary.

While relaxing, Philip enjoyed listening to some music by his favorite singers, Patsy Cline and Wayne Newton, although he had a great voice himself and could often be heard singing along. When it came to his favorite meal, Philip liked Gert’s beef stroganoff or kielbasa and carrot cake for dessert. However, every Christmas, Philip made his family a large pot of his delicious kielbasa with his “special” ingredient. When it came to food and germs, Philip was always very cautious and constantly told his kids and grandkids to “wash your paws” before eating. Yet, when he took a bite of a potato chip, he would set aside the part his fingers touched and not eat it. When invited to a cook out, they would have to get there early because Philip didn’t want the food to sit out long, and he certainly wouldn’t eat something if he didn’t know who made it. He was just peculiar that way!

A wonderful husband, father and grandfather, Philip will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Philip Price, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, from complications of lung cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Agnes “Gert”; grandson, Michael Simmons; son-in-law, James Marble; 4 sisters, 3 brothers and his parents, Walter and Margaret Price. Philip is survived by his children: James (Bernice) Muste Jr., Sharon (LeRoy) Simmons, Diana Marble, and Carla Jamison (Greg Kozdemba); 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; brother, Donald Price; sisters and brothers-in-law: Louise Price, June (Bob) Goodall, Russell (Velma) Graves, and Marge (Occar) Kimble; and many nieces and nephews.

The celebration of life service for Philip will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids. Friends are invited to meet with his family on Wednesday, May 14, from 7-9 p.m. and on Thursday, May 15, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or Macular Degeneration Foundation. Please visit Philip’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book, if you are unable to attend.