Phillip P Stumpf

On Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, in the evening, Phillip Preston Stumpf, a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend, succumbed valiantly from a long battle with CCM Disease, surrounded by his loving family. Preceded in death are parents Wilma Libby Wardlow and Walter Pete Stumpf and brother Robert Pete Stumpf, Phillip leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and resilience.

Phillip is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Patricia, his sisters Roxanna and Amber, sons Jeffrey Phillip and Phillip Kevin, daughter Natasha, son-in-law Gary, and daughters-in-law Cindy and Debbie. His pride and joy were being surrounded by his 17 grandchildren, Mallory (spouse Mark), Brandon, Mariah (spouse Nate), Bayley (fiancé Noah), Natalya, Michael (spouse Kayla), Brittany (spouse Kevin), Brandon (spouse Chelsea), Courtney, Clayton, and Jeremy, along with 14 great-grandchildren. This October when he was facetiming with a few great grandchildren he said “I’m a Great Grandpapa, boy am I a proud Greatpapa!”

He has two nieces Karla and Jeanette and five nephews Robert, Brian, Jason, Todd, Ryan, and five great nieces and seven great nephews plus many cousins.

Born and raised in San Bernardino, California, Phillip's adventurous spirit led him to reside in various places such as Running Springs CA, Spring Valley Lake CA, Apple Valley CA, Henderson Nevada, San Clemente CA, and Lake Havasu City AZ.

Phillip's journey included meeting his lifelong love, Patricia, at Phototron, serving three years in the National Guard, and later becoming a paramedic with the San Bernardino County Fire Department. He then joined the Chino Valley Fire Department, progressing from firefighter and fire engineer to captain, retiring as Battalion Chief 1615 in December 1999.

Phillip was a true entrepreneur with Patricia, owning and operating a Beer Pub, two 7-11 convenience stores, three Subway sandwich shops, a Mailboxes Etc, and a Texaco Star Mart. He attended San Bernardino Valley College and became a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Science; he pursued diverse passions throughout his life.

An avid sports fan, Phillip loved the Rams and Angels. His fascination with vehicles extended to his beloved ‘32 Dearborn Deuce roadster, a '44 Ford woody, fast boats, and fire engines. He loved tinkering around in his cool garage and looking at his cars and boats. Known for his infectious laughter, Phillip cherished sharing stories about the fire service, Lake Havasu and car shows.

Phillip's zest for life extended to his hobbies, from competing in annual fireman's muster events to being the pitcher for the Chino Fire slow pitch softball team. His vibrant sarcasm, witty personality and the ability to make people laugh out loud endeared him to all who knew him.

A master of words, Phillip was known for his rhyming prowess, a talent he embraced with joy. Impeccably dressed, he could be seen in a variety of outfits, from starched Bermuda plaid shorts and Izod shirts to Sperry Topsiders, Tommy Bahama, suits, wrangler jeans and an endless amount of car and fire service ball caps. He loved to sing and dance and attend concerts especially like Jan and Dean, Beach Boys, Righteous Brothers and the Rolling Stones as well as '90s country. We will not be able to hear the Beach Boys without remembering Phillip.

Despite his adventurous spirit, Phillip was not known for his driving skills, often being a "lookie lou" who couldn't resist the urge to admire everything around him. Yet, his resilience earned him nicknames like the "Energizer Bunny" and the "Bionic Man," as he bounced back from numerous health challenges, including skin cancer, prostate cancer, renal kidney disease, cardiovascular issues, two shoulder and knee replacements, back surgery and a kidney transplant.

Phillip Preston Stumpf's memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. His legacy is one of courage, laughter, and an unwavering love for life. May he rest in peace, forever remembered for his indomitable spirit and the joy he brought to all who were fortunate enough to share in his journey.

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