Philip J Solscheid

Philip John Solscheid, 82, passed away January 3, 2021 at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, WA at 6:15AM of natural causes or what he would affectionately call it “TMB-too many birthdays”. Funeral services will be held in private. Hennessey Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements and Live Stream will be available by invitation.

Philip John Solscheid was born November 30, 1938 to parents Forrest and Frances Solscheid.  He was an older brother to sister Judy.  He was raised in Burien, WA.  Despite having polio, Phil loved playing sports, especially baseball and basketball.  He loved to fish and swim in Lake Burien. When he was in junior high, he entered the “Ol’ Woody Pitching Contest” where he beat out 5,000 Seattle area boys and went on to win first place.  He was awarded with an Alaskan Cruise! Phil attended Highline High School, (Go Pirates!) class of 1956. He spent his summers as a camp counselor.  Being a camp leader was an introduction to what would soon be his gifts: cooking, storytelling, and investing in people.

Phil attended Central Washington University (Go Wildcats!) where he was taking classes to be a teacher. His life was forever altered when he met the love of his life and best friend Patricia Nichols. They wed his freshman year of college.  With family responsibilities, young, responsible Phil left college to work for his father-in-law in sales in the Rubber and Manufacturing business. He worked for Boeing, Huntington Rubber, Washington Belt, NottAtwater, and RAM.  During this time, Phil and Pat had 3 children.  While raising their young children, the young couple lovingly fostered 31 children.  They chose to adopt 3 of those foster children and make them part of their family.  They raised their family in Federal Way. They moved to Bend, OR and eventually Spokane, WA. After a successful career in sales and raising 6 kids, Phil and Pat retired in Seaside, OR in 2001.  Here, you could find him helping out at the Food Bank at the Catholic Church, or cracking crab at the American Legion.   In the summer you could find him sunbathing in the dunes with his little radio and red blanket. In the Spring and Fall he would walk or ride his bike down the promenade. Here, in Seaside, the growing family would gather for Thanksgivings, Fourth of Julys and various weekends where Phil loved to cook big meals, play the spoons, and tell stories. Phil and Pat hosted numerous neighborhood dinners and get-togethers with friends and neighbors and had house guests from all over, come and stay at “Breakers II”.  Also during his retirement, every year Phil and Pat left their chilly beach house on the Oregon Coast to spend time with friends on the warm, welcoming beaches of Hawaii.  Phil made fast friends with the locals, knew the best “little hole in the wall” restaurants to eat at that gave you “a lot of food for a small amount of money” and what time and where to catch the best sunrise and sunset.    

Phil will be remembered for so many things: his witty, one-liners and catch phrases, his sense of humor, his cooking, his “common sense”, his talents, his courage to try new things and go to new places, his OCD and having things “just so”, his “handsome good looks”, and his ability to make friends with anyone.  Afterall, “a stranger is someone you haven’t introduced yourself to yet”.  Anyone who had contact with Phil for more than 15 minutes was left richer by their encounter. 

Phil is preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Frances and his sister Judy (Solscheid) Lemmon. 
Phil is survived by his “first” wife (as he would fondly introduce her), his beautiful bride of almost 63 years Patricia,  his  6 children: Jeff, his wife Robin, Greg, his wife Naomi,  Pam, her husband Don, Susan, her husband Lee, Chris, his wife Beth, Mary, and her husband Kimo, his 15 grandchildren: Nick and wife Brittany, Brooke and husband Jack, Matt and wife Megan, Jordan, Ashley and husband Robbie, Yared, Chae and husband Josh, Samson and wife Marisa, Bilen, Cheris, Keilani, Makaio, Christopher, Leilani, and Ainsley;  his 16 great grandchildren: Judah, Tytus, Peniel, Rafe, Neveah, Elijah, Lucy, Sederick, Alice, Tyson, Roman, Walter, George, Russ, Cecilia, and Samson Jr. 

Acknowledgements
Our family wishes to express sincere gratitude to all the health care workers at The Fairwinds, The Cedar Highlands, The Edelweiss House, and The Ray Hickey Hospice House for being a listening ear, a soft touch, and patient care taker.  A big thank you to all the Stroyans, neighbors, friends, and loved ones who showered him and us with love, concern, kindness, thoughts, prayers, and your gift of time.  We appreciate you. 

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