Philip Spence Weigand

Phil was born November 14, 1937 in San Pedro, California, the oldest child of John and Margaret Weigand. Phil was proud to be a “Navy Brat” and one of his earliest memories was of low-flying Japanese aircraft over his home on King Street in Honolulu on December 7, 1941. His father’s naval career took the family across the United States and Phil attended schools in California, Washington, Maryland and Hawaii. He was a graduate of Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California. Phil attended Stanford University on a baseball scholarship (he was a catcher), where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta.

During his senior year at Stanford he met his future wife, Judy Lynch, of Olympia, and they were married on December 22, 1959. They have three children, Spence Weigand (Dawn) of Olympia, Kiki Graf (Ben) of Selah and Eric Weigand of Walla Walla. The children have produced nine wonderful grandchildren and three even more wonderful great grandchildren.

Following his graduation from Stanford, Phil was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps, and his 20 years of active duty were a source of great pride and achievement. In May 1967, while serving as Commanding Officer of a tank company in Viet Nam, he was awarded The Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action.” He was also awarded The Bronze Star for outstanding service. During his career Phil served tours of duty in Okinawa, The Philippines, Viet Nam, California, Ohio and Virginia. The Corps sent Phil to Boston University where he earned a Masters Degree in Public Affairs. Following that, Phil served as Special Assistant to The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Cushman, traveling extensively in that role. Much to her surprise while watching Huntley and Brinkley one evening, Judy saw Phil, in full uniform, before a background of tulips in Amsterdam, explaining, or at least attempting to, the Commandant’s involvement in the Watergate scandal.

Following retirement from the Marine Corps, Phil worked for Panorama Corporation for six years, before he was fired by management for refusing to violate a Federal Law regarding Union organization. Phil quickly obtained a real estate license commencing a 25-year career with Virgil Adams Real Estate. During that career many of his clients became close friends and Phil became deeply involved in his community.

Phil was on the Board of Trustees of Heritage Bank, Saint Martin’s University and The Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County. Several years ago, this community recognized Phil and Judy for their philanthropy and it gave Phil great joy to share the gifts that God and his own hard work had given him. If you had the opportunity to ask Phil what you could do to best honor his memory he would have told you without hesitation, “Find a cause you believe in, and dig deep!”

In addition to his immediate family, Phil’s brother Denis Weigand, and sisters, Bernadette Weigand and Louise Gautreaux survive him. Phil’s sister, Johnita Weigand, and his nephew, Robin Hanson, predeceased him.

Phil was a huge presence in the lives of those close to him. His death now leaves a corresponding absence for us, the extent of which only the coming months and years will reveal. We are gratified however that his was a fully and truly well-lived life; we are gratified as well knowing his absence will be filled by the achievements of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by all the warm and wonderful memories we hold of the life we so happily shared with him.

A memorial mass will be held at the Westside Sanctuary of St. Michael’s Church, 1835 Overhulse Road NW, on Friday, July 15 at noon, followed by a reception to celebrate Phil’s life at The Olympia Country and Golf Club, 3636 Country Club Road NW, Olympia, WA 98502.