October 08, 1922 - November 08, 2017
Harve H. Phipps, Jr. Obituary
(Age 95)
Our beloved father passed away on November 8, 2017. Harve was born on October 8, 1922, in Spokane, WA, the son of Harve H. Phipps, Sr. and Margaret B. Phipps. A lifelong resident of Spokane, he graduated from North Central High School and Gonzaga Law School. During high school, Harve met his love and future wife, Alta, and they were married in 1942. Harve enjoyed a long and active law practice, beginning with a partnership with his father in 1953. In 1963, he joined the Farm Credit Banks of Spokane, retiring in 1988 as Senior Vice-President and General Counsel. He continued with his private practice until 2005 when his administrative assistant (our mother) said she was retiring. He was a 50+ year member of the Washington State and Spokane Bar Associations. A decorated WWII fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater, Harve served on active duty from 1942-47. In 1947, he joined the 116th Fighter Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, which included flying his much-loved P-51's at Felts Field. He served with the US Air Force Judge Advocate Group (JAG) at Fairchild Air Force Base until his retirement from the Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973. Harve had a passion for sports cars and enjoyed restoring them. We had the opportunity to try out our driving skills on Porsches, BMWs, Volkswagens, and more. He would take them apart, search the U.S. for parts, and then have them rebuilt by his favorite mechanics. He was also an active participant in racquet sports at the Spokane Club for many years, and in his younger years played for the Spokane YMCA volleyball team, which won the Pacific Northwest Championship in 1966. We are thankful that Dad had a long and wonderful life, and a great time during his life, as he told us. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Alta; daughter Sally Phipps; and his sisters, Virginia Daubert and Marjorie Olson. He will be greatly missed by his daughters Susan Poquette, Polly Phipps, Barbara Buckalew; his sons-in-law Steven Poquette and Allen Buckalew; and his godson and wife, Mark and Debbie McLaughlin. He was a favorite of his grandchildren, Peter and Matthew Poquette, as well as great-grandchildren Amara, Sierra, Marissa, Dylan, Justin, Gabriel, and Andalucia. He also had a close circle of relatives, nephews and nieces, and friends that will miss his gentle and caring spirit. One of his favorite places was Newman Lake, WA where the family spent every summer for many years. He was able to spend several weeks there last summer and also host a celebration of Alta's life.
Honoring Harve's wishes, the family will gather privately for a celebration of his life. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church and the Honor Point Military and Aerospace Museum at Felts Field.
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