Phillip Harold Weatherholt

Phillip Harold Weatherholt, 75, passed away Monday, October 8, 2018 at his residence in Rio Grande, Ohio surrounded by his family. He was born June 8, 1943 in Barboursville, West Virginia, son of Frances Ruth Weatherholt, who survives, and the late Harold Howard Weatherholt. He spent his first eight years of his life in Ona, West Virginia before moving to Gallia County, where he spent the rest of his life.  He graduated the last graduating class of Rio Grande High School in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Army January 9, 1962 and completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a wheel vehicle mechanic. After basic training, he was deployed to Paris, France, where he was injured in an accident and received his Honorable Discharge June 10, 1965. He married Patricia Graham Weatherholt in Parisburg, Virginia in 1970, who proceeds him in death. Together they made their home in Rio Grande, Ohio. 

His passion was giving all four of his children descriptive driving instructions even when the instructions were not needed. He always made them aware of how fast they were going and every road sign and mile marker that was passed. The children found constructive ways to prevent him from seeing the speedometer which included placing towels over the it. He always made sure that when they returned home, the gas tank was full - even if it only required one gallon of gas being put in the gas tank. The children also figured out over the years not to tell him what time they were arriving because he watched the clock and would let them know if they were one second late on their arrival.   

He had an avid passion for mechanical tools that would make Snap On and Craftsman envious and is leaving behind the massive amount of tools and tool boxes to his sons, son-in-law, and grandsons.

Phillip never met a stranger and was able to make friends everywhere he went. He was a good friend to all and always had a smile on his face. He was very accident prone and his siblings and children claimed he had 9 lives. After his fall from a tree in 2003, he was unable to drive so he took his lawnmower around the village in lieu of a car. He would mow the neighbor’s grass while she was away if he thought it needed it and take daily trips to the Post Office and College on his lawnmower.

He was a member of all the Veteran’s Associations in Gallia County. For years, he did not miss any of his meetings, and he held many different titles over the years. His wife, Patty, would get upset that he was never home in the evenings due to all the meetings that he attended. After many years of Patty’s nagging and complaining about these meetings and his not being home, he dropped all but the VFW which made Patty happy because she loved the VFW meetings. Together, they did not miss a VFW meeting and if Patty was sick during her chemo, they would have one of their children or grandchildren take them to the meetings. They took cheese to every meeting and the guys at the VFW are going to be lost without the cheese. 

He is survived by his children: Janette Elliott, Richmond Dale, Ohio; Amy Case, Rio Grande, Ohio; Kristi (Jeff) Hutchison, St. Charles, Missouri; Nathan (Bethany) Weatherholt, Vinton, Ohio and his four-legged children, Casey and Tucker, Rio Grande, Ohio who still refuse to go outside when it’s raining. He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Ryan Elliott, Brittany (James) Baker, Heather (John) Colby, Makenzie Case, Jeremiah Case, Connor Hutchison, Johnathan Case, Noah Hutchison and Ethan Hutchison as well as his great-grandchildren. Tyson Colby (aka Scuttle Butt), Chloe Baker and one on the way.  He will be missed by his sisters, Patty (Eugene) Holley, Bidwell, Ohio; Bonnie Patton, Orient, Ohio and brother Charles Weatherholt, Gallipolis, Ohio as well as his adopted son, Terry Elliott and adopted granddaughter, Teah Elliott, both of Gallipolis, Ohio.

In addition to his wife and father, he was preceded in death by one sister, Barbara Weatherholt and his four-legged children, Molly, Luke and Casper. 

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the Holzer Hospice team for the excellent care that Phillip received.

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Friday, October 12, 2018 in the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, 420 First Ave, Gallipolis, Ohio with Pastor Heath Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Baptist Cemetery, Rio Grande, Ohio. Visitation for family and friends will be held Thursday, October 11, 2018 5:00-7:00 PM

In lieu of flowers, he wished for donations to be made to:

Ohio Valley Christian School 1100 Fourth Avenue Gallipolis, OH  45631

Condolences may be sent to www.mccoymoore.com

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