More detail on this person: Philip Morris
Schmidt, April 12, 1935 - May 4, 2015. Philip
Morris Schmidt was born and raised in Pittsburg,
PA in 1935. While in high school, his family moved
to Columbus, OH where he met his future wife,
Emmy Wharff. Phil entered Ohio State University
(OSU) where, besides attending to his studies and
working as a salesman at Lazarus Department
Store, he reignited his love of aviation. Phil
then got his pilot's license and went into
partnership to purchase his first airplane. He
left Ohio State before graduation to enter the
Naval Cadet Program in Pensacola, FL. Phil
graduated as a second lieutenant in the U.S.
Marine Corps and was awarded his Naval Aviator
Wings. He then entered the fleet at Marine Corps
Air Station El Toro, CA, where he also completed
his undergraduate degree at California State
University, Fullerton. While flying jets at El
Toro, he had an engine failure and was severely
injured bringing the airplane home. An event so
noteworthy, it was featured in Life Magazine.
During his convalescent leave over Christmas,
1958, Phil asked Emmy to marry him, for the 6th
time, and she finally acquiesced. Phil
transitioned from jets to helicopters at Pensacola
Naval Air Station before deploying to fly combat
missions in Vietnam. After 13 years of service as
a Marine pilot, Phil returned to Columbus where he
rejoined Lazarus Department Store as the Director
of Executive Development. In the following years,
Phil worked with several different retailers
around the country, May Department Stores, Paul
Harris, Emporium Capwell, and Bloomingdale's. He
then joined startup company Tops Appliance City in
New Jersey, retiring as President in 1999. Phil
and Emmy then moved to paradise, as he called
Sarasota, where he enjoyed boating, golfing, and
wonderful friends. Phil is survived by his wife,
Emmy, of 56 years; his children, Karen, Karl, and
Kevin; his grandchildren, Kelly and Maximilian;
and lovable companion, his dog, Molly. Phil often
said that his most noteworthy achievement was his
wonderful children and grandchildren, for which he
attributes most of the credit to Emmy. Memorial
contributions may be made to the First
Presbyterian Church of Sarasota or the Wounded
Warrior Project. There will be a private family
memorial service soon and an opportunity for
Phil's friends to pay their respects on June 1 at
2 p.m. at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
Published in The Columbus Dispatch on May 10,
2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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