Phillip Earl Church

Phillip Earl Church (age 60) died Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at his home in Alexandria Township, NJ, surrounded by his loving family after years of battling Huntington’s Disease.

Born November 10, 1961 in Buffalo NY, Phil was the son of the late Ronald and Patricia (McCraken) Church. Following Phil's Buffalo childhood, the Church family relocated to Alexander, NY. From his youth, Phil was blessed with height and athletic skills. In high school he played center on the basketball team and an offensive tight end and defensive lineman on the football team. He spent many happy days with his father and five siblings riding and racing motorcycles, competing in motocross events, and working on cars at their home.

Phil first attended college at Roberts Wesleyan University, where he met his wife of 37 years, Heidi (Vannah) Church. Phil also attended Clarkson University and received joint Bachelor of Science Degrees in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering from the two universities. The great majority of Phil's career was spent at Bihler of America, where he worked for more than 25 years as a mechanical engineer.

Throughout his life, Phil attended and participated in church with his family. His family spent many years at South Ridge Community Church in Clinton NJ and then spent the past several years worshipping at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Ringoes NJ. Phil was also remarkably handy, using his skills to support his family by working on their home and vehicles. There was little that he could not fix or build on his own when he set his mind to it.

Phil's chief joy in life was his family. He loved riding motorcycles with his siblings and father, always finding beautiful winding roads to explore together. The Church family loved camping and enjoying the outdoors together. Particularly noteworthy was a trip that Phil's family took across the USA in their station wagon, camping and experiencing life in various locations throughout the country. In his adulthood, Phil, his wife Heidi, and children Greg and Megan traveled often to Port Clyde, Maine, an old family property in Heidi's family. Throughout his life, laughter and levity defined his time with family. Whether they were telling stories together around the dinner table, or playing a board game, or Phil was pulling a prank, he and his family smiled and laughed often together.

In addition to his parents, Phil was predeceased by three of his brothers, Ronald Church Jr., Clair Church, and Robert Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Heidi Church, his son Gregory Church of Millersville MD, his daughter, Megan Church of Bloomsbury, NJ, his sister, Debra Kaye, his brother, Brian Church (and wife Amy Church), his sisters-in-law, Sara Kimmey and Ellen Church, his grandson, Everest Church, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service for Phil will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington NJ. Cremation will be private. Calling hours will be on Saturday from 12:00 until the time of service at the funeral home. Following the memorial service, refreshments will be served at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (24 US 202, Ringoes NJ). All are welcome to the calling hours, memorial service, and refreshments.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Phil’s name may be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America: https://hdsa.org (505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 902, New York, NY 10018).

For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.