ANCHARSKI, Philip (Phil)

Philip (Phil) Ancharski 92, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died on September 29, 2007 in Tucson, AZ. He was born in 1915 in Hazleton, PA to Joseph and Mary Ancharski and was one of 19 children. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Rosemarie; his parents and brothers and sisters, Anna, Joseph Jr., Paul, Jimmy, Billy, Helen, Bobby, Thomas and Leona. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Virginia; by his children, Eddie (Irene), Jeanette Erickson (Richard), Michael (Carrie), Robert (Nancy), John, Thomas (Lynette), Paul (Dora) and Donald (Tracy), his 17 grandchildren, Tracy, Christina, Vanessa, Melissa, Tiffany, Matthew, Jason, Christopher, Rosemarie, Isabella, Grace, Alexandra, Emily, Kelley, Benjamin, Bianca and Andrew, and seven great-grandchildren, Dylan, Ryan, Desmond, Jalen, Delilah, Jasmine and Kylie and brothers and sisters, Richard, Violet, Louise, Peggy, Charlie, Joanne, Jackie, Buddy and Dolly. Phil joined the Army upon graduation from Hazleton High School in 1933. He transferred to the Air Corps prior to WWII and flew in B-17s during the war. He was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB from 1946 to 1959 and retired as a SMSGT in 1964 after 30 years of service. Returning to Tucson, Phil served as a police officer with the University of Arizona Police Department and again retired in 1977. He was a founding member of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Tucson. Phil was a kind and generous man and will be greatly missed by those who knew him. His greatest joys in retirement were spending time with his family and friends and supporting the Arizona Wildcats. The family would like to thank the staff at the TMC Hospice for their caring service. A Mass to celebrate Phil's life will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on October 4, 2007 at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, 1800 S. Kolb, with Phil's son, Father John Ancharski presiding. Burial will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., October 3, 2007 at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway, with the Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Published in the Tucson on 10/2/2007.