Phillip Vawter

Phillip S. Vawter, age 57 years, of Appletree Lane in Caro, died suddenly on Monday, June 26, 2006 at Caro Community Hospital. He was born on January 13, 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri. Phil graduated high school at Park Hill High School, Park Hill, Missouri in 1967, and went on to earn a B.A. in Government and Administration from Park College and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. Phil managed Missouris most historic community, Ste. Genevieve, which is the oldest French settlement west of the Mississippi. He had a proven ability to lead downtown development and redevelopment, as well as an excellent track record in obtaining grant funding and staff development. He was employed in municipal governments in various communities in Missouri, Illinois and Michigan, most recently in Walled Lake for twelve years prior to coming to Caro. Phil also spent an amount of time as Adjunct Professor at Park College and was a member of the International City/County Management Association, Michigan Local Government Management Association, and Rotary International, most recently the Caro club. In addition to a passion for his work, he loved the Blues, Jazz and sports, especially the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Phil is survived by a brother and his wife, Jonathan Vawter and Barbara Palombi PhD of Zeeland; and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his aunts and uncles. The funeral service will be held at the Collon Funeral Home in Caro on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. with Rev. Melissa DeRosia from the First Presbyterian Church of Caro officiating. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be at the Collon Funeral Home on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until time of service at 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Chippewa Landing, Special Projects (Memorial Bench).