Phillip Walter Jordan's Obituary
Phillip Walter Jordan passed away very serenely on 25 April 2024, surrounded by his Centerville Betterment friends and older brother Tom.
Born on 24 October 1953, Phillip was mentally handicapped at birth and also struggled with physical deformities. As a lifelong non- verbal child and later adult, Phillip lacked the capacity to read or speak. However, Phillip could express his likes and dislikes and would express his feelings by actions and gestures. He could also understand and follow simple verbal direction.
In 1960, Phillip's family moved to Centerville and started the Centerville Meat Company which later became a restaurant. For most of his life, Phillip was in his parent's care and they ensured he was included in all the family's daily routine and activities. As he could not attend a normal school, Phillip was normally with his parents at the family business, and on Sunday, he attended the Sunday service at First Lutheran. When the opportunity arose to attend a local school for the handicapped, he attended those classes as well. When his father passed away in 1989, Phillip continued to live with his mother until her advanced age precluded her for continuing his care. Phillip then lived for six years in a group home in Chariton, Iowa. In 2010, he was placed with Centerville Community Betterment where he was quite happy and content. Phillip greatly enjoyed the many CCB activities that included sight-seeing trips to various places and events, holiday parties and other activities such as bowling. Most of all Phillip enjoyed the nice quiet atmosphere of his group home where he would drink his coffee or coco and sit and watch the birds and wildlife outside. He was enjoying such a day when he passed.
Preceding Phillip in death is his parents, Kenneth and Beverley Jordan. Surviving family is Ken and Elisa Jordan, Mililani, Hawaii; Tom and Sher Jordan, Leavenworth, Kansas; and Kay and Shane Balsley, Taylors, South Carolina, along with numerous extended family and friends. A surviving aunt is Beryl Hillier, Peoria, Arizona.
Per wishes, Phillip has been cremated. A joint Celebration of Life service with his mother, Beverley will be held at 12:00PM (Noon), Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville with Pastor Jeremy McElvain officiating. Inurnment will follow the service at Haines Cemetery on highway 5. A fellowship gathering will be held after the committal. Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Jordan Family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
To view the livestream of Beverley and Phillip's service, please visit: https://my.gather.app/remember/beverley-jordan-2024
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