Philip Elmore Reynolds passed away peacefully on July 27. He was born on May 9, 1919 in Fresno to Harold V. and Ruth Elmore Reynolds. He followed his parents’ educational path and was a 1940 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his degree in electrical engineering and was a member of Eta Kappa Nu. During World War II, he was an employee of General Electric Company in Lynn, Massachusetts and Schenectady, New York. It was to this latter location that he brought his bride, Annette Medefind, after their marriage in 1943. Phil and Annette’s early marriage was forged through sorrow and joy as they lost their first child, Charlene Mae, to childhood illness but were soon blessed by the birth of their first son, Billy Harold.
The Reynolds returned to California in 1946 where three additional children were later born: Stephen Philip, Roger Lee and Martha Anne. Professionally, Phil followed in his father’s footsteps and joined Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Over the next 38 years, he held positions of increasing responsibility in PG&E’s natural gas business. He was responsible, among other things, for the engineering of much of PG&E’s mainline pipeline system and gas distribution facilities in the Bay Area and in the Central Valley. He retired in 1984 as vice-president of engineering and construction for Pacific Gas Transmission, PG&E’s pipeline link to western Canada. While his accomplishments were never visible to the public, his work contributed to the growth and prosperity of California and the entire West.
After the passing of his wife Annette in 1990, Phil enjoyed 15 years of companionship with his second wife, Jean Watson Frost, whom he met at the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. Phil was an active member of First Pres throughout his adult life and sang tenor in the choir. He served on the committee responsible for the design and construction of the current First Pres church sanctuary. Phil viewed the church and its mission as the central building blocks of his life. He also was a man with strong pride in and love of family, an avid traveler, a fierce domino competitor, and the archivist of the records of the Reynolds and Elmore families, who were early settlers of California.
He is survived by his adult children: Bill (Rogene) Reynolds of Stockton, California; Steve (Paula) Reynolds of Seattle, Washington; Roger (Melissa) Reynolds of Hanford, California and Martha (Blain) Allen of Oakland, California. He is also survived by two brothers: Robert (Betty) Reynolds of Orinda, California and John Reynolds of Vancouver, Washington; his sister-in-law Helen Jean Medefind of Merced, California; his sister-in-law Dorothy Vance of Walnut Creek, California as well as six grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Over the last weeks of his life, he was visited frequently by many of his family and closest friends. No word of respect, affection or appreciation was left unsaid and he enjoyed and loved them all dearly. On his behalf, the family gives him one last “Go Bears!”
A private interment is planned. A service celebrating Phil’s life will be held on Saturday, August 17th at 11am at the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. Donations in his memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley.
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