Phillip H. Gerdine

Phillip Howard Gerdine

Phillip Howard Gerdine was born on December 8, 1955, in Denver, Colorado, to loving and proud Christian parents, Frank Wendell Gerdine and Faye Elizabeth Wyatt Gerdine. They were deeply blessed by the birth of this son, Phillip, because he was their fourth son, and their seventh child. He grew up surrounded by his six siblings, Frank Ed, Wilma Jean, Louanna Faye, Wendell Delano, Kenneth Lowell and Sara Elizabeth. The number 7 was a very sacred number as it has been written throughout the ages, that number, 7, has ecclesiastical meaning. According to Genesis 2:2-3, "And on the seventh day, God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which God created and made; 3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Frank and Faye looked to their seventh child, Phillip Howard Gerdine, to be a blessing from the Good Lord. The number 7 represents perfection; and it also means completion. God created the Heavens and earth in 7 days. Phillip's parents had 7 children, with Phillip being the final sibling, which was number 7.

Phillip, as a child and on into his adult manhood, was greatly influenced by his mother, Faye, who loved him deeply and unapologetically therefore giving him favor. Phillip was quiet, unless he knew you very well, and he stayed close to his immediate family. Yet, when he spoke, both as a child, and as a man, he spoke what he honestly thought and felt strongly about There was no one else except Phillip who had a smile, and eyes to match, to reveal his expression on how genuine his smile was on different matters. He was honest all his life in how he felt about what he thought to be important and realistic. He practiced what he preached, and it was clear and genuine, whether you agreed with him or not.

Phillip was baptized by the Reverend M. C Williams, Pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church in Denver, at that time, at the age of twelve years old, the same age that Jesus Christ declared in the Temple, that it was time for him to be about his Father's business. Phillip truly believed in God H e would say to anyone whom he would meet, on a daily basis, "God loves you, and so do I" His Mother, Faye, instilled this Christian mantra into him, in which he lived by all his life.

Phillip was happy with what he had. He was very close to his immediate family. He loved all his family members, even those that he did not see often. Most of his time was spent with his mother and father, and his six brothers and sisters, whether it was daily, or on holidays, or special occasions, or when anybody was sick. He would always say to his family, “You’re all that I have.” Because he was the seventh child and the "Baby" in the family, he could get anything from anybody, and everybody knew it.

Phillip married Kalynn Hobbs at his mother and father's home. Kalynn Hobbs Gerdine was afflicted by cancer and, sadly, she passed away. He was very close to their children.

He loved his neighborhoods, having grown up in the Five Points area, spending his pre-teen and teen years living in Park Hill, where everybody knew him and enjoyed being in his company. He was very close to his next-door neighbors, Jose, Maria, and Linda. He walked everywhere he went, whether it was to go to his favorite neighborhood restaurant, Ho Mei or to Montbello, a neighborhood where he loved playing football with his friends. He was a hearty eater and enjoyed large plates of food.

Having lived in Denver all his life, he was educated in the Denver Public Schools. He went to Whittier Elementary School When his parents moved to the Park Hill neighborhood, he was a student at Phillips, Place, and Hallett Elementary Schools. He loved music, excelling in playing the drums, and he loved his music teacher, Mrs. Anderson, who taught at Place. Because of school policies being put into place on Open Enrollment, he was a student at Smiley Middle School, Morey Middle School, East High School, and George Washington High School. He was a very modest man but knowing and being well informed about all kinds of cars. He, over a period of time, owned hot rods, the GTO, a "Super B," Dodge Charger, and he took care of the interior and the exterior where they shined spotlessly. He liked fast cars but later he moved on up to owning Cadillacs.

He lived a very uncomplicated life. He was personally immaculate in that he would bathe and shave everyday - not ever missing a day, he would always make sure that his clothes were "just right," insisting that the cleaners would put creases in his jeans, and he would only wear spotless tennis shoes. He would always get up late every day- about 11:00 a.m.

He loved and was so proud of his work in the Construction Industry. In working for Hensel Phelps Construction Company, he assisted in the building of Anschutz UC Health Center, the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, and the Lindsey- Flanigan Justice Center.

He never lost his faith in Jesus Christ as he always proclaimed his love and belief in God.

He was courageous and diligent as he faced his failing health. He also believed that those who preceded him in death would be there in Heaven where The Good Lord had prepared a place for him also.

He is preceded in death by his father Frank Wendell Gerdine and his mother Faye Elizabeth Wyatt Gerdine wherein she passed away on the 7'h day of January. He is also preceded in death by two brothers, Frank Ed Gerdine, and Wendell Delano Gerdine and one nephew, Keith Andre Thomas.

Our Beloved Phillip Howard Gerdine passed away peacefully and according to God's Will on Saturday morning, December 14, 2024, with his family at his bedside.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving sisters and brother, Wilma J. Webb and her husband Wellington E. Webb, Luanna F. Slay and her husband Charles B.T. Slay, Sara E. G. Dickerson and her husband Ronald Dickerson, and Kenneth L. Gerdine; his children Tiana Nicole Gerdine, Tunishia Hobbs, and D'Shawn Gerdine and his wife, Tierra Gerdine, his grandchildren Thomas Hanford III; his nephews Donunique Dickerson, Wendell Donnell Gerdine Dickerson and his wife Donnie, Carlos R. Gerdine, Germaine L Gerdine, Kenneth L Gerdine, Jr. and his wife Tiffany, Lovell Gerdine, Joseph M Gerdine Knighton, Charles B. Slay, Jr. and his wife Deborah, Frank E. Gerdine, Jr. and his wife Lorelei, Lonnell King, Patrick J. O'Malley and his wife Jalynn, Steven K. O'Malley, Kevin L. Slay, Sean W. Slay and his wife Arianne, Anthony W. Webb and his wife Rosemary, and Kendrick W. Ward; his nieces Shirley Jane Gerdine, Dionne Hobley, Katia L. Gerdine, Amber Johnson, Janel Martin and her husband John Martin, Stephanie Y. O'Malley, Cheryl Slay Taylor and her husband Michael Taylor, and Ansherea Smith and her husband Jermaine Smith; his cousins Gracine Gerdine Mayo, Clint A. Gerdine, Jamie Gerdine, Mark Gerdine and Milton Thomas; his beloved friends Linda DeLeon, Marie DeLeon and Jose DeLeon and a host of other relatives and friends.