John Phillip (Phil) Gwinner, 94, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great, and great-great uncle passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022.

Memorial Service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, July 30, at First United Methodist Church, 502 W Harvey Ave, Wellington, Ks. 67152.

Born October 14, 1927, in Ellsworth, Ks, Phil was last of four children born to Mary Agnes (Fishburn) and Charles (Charlie) Carley Gwinner. Coming along seven years after his stair-step siblings, Ruth, Jack, and Bob, as the baby he was doted on and in turn he idolized them.

Phil's family moved to Lincoln, Ks where he attended elementary school and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1945.Phil grew up working at his father's ice cream store on Main Street in Lincoln.  As a natural raconteur, Phil would regale us with stories about his many fond memories of the small-town life and characters along main street, and the antics of his older brothers.  The Gwinner boys cut quite a swath and they were fiercely protective of their beautiful older sister and younger brother.

After graduation Phil worked at a couple of jobs in and around Lincoln but was soon encouraged to apply for a position with the Santa Fe Railroad.  This job relocated him to Kiowa, Ks and was his first posting in a 42-year career at the railroad.  A stroke of luck being sent to Kiowa was the opportunity to meet another boarding house resident, a young teacher from Edmond Oklahoma named Roxie Mae Smyrl who captured his interest and heart.  He and Roxie were married June 19, 1949.  Roxie shared the same birthday as Phil and being six hours older the family joke was always that she "robbed the cradle".

Phil and Roxie had one son, Charles (Charlie) Grant Gwinner, born Dec 30, 1951.  When Charlie was in kindergarten the young family moved to Wellington, Kansas.

Phil was a charter member of the Panhandle Federal Credit Union and enjoyed being active in various positions and committees until January of 2022, when his health began failing. He had many dear friends over the years from his ties to the Credit Union.

Phil was also a lifelong member of the Free Masons and was proud of his affiliation with that group.

Phil worked for Santa Fe until he took early retirement in 1988 to avoid having to relocate.  Not to be outdone, Roxie also retired in 1988 from her job at the SRS Office in Wellington.  The two enjoyed family and friends and their retirement together until Roxie's untimely death in 2003.  Part of a group of couples who had shared friendship for decades, Phil was the lone widower remaining and continued with the weekly dinners squiring the remaining widows as that group diminished to the last two standing: him and dear companion Vera Parker.  Phil treasured the life-long friendships from that group and was happy to have those ties to his and Roxie's earlier life.

Phil was a daily fixture for breakfast at Penny's diner and enjoyed the friendships he had there among the other diners and loving staff.  We quickly learned to give advance notice if Phil were not going to be there lest his on-the-scene "Peeps" would sound the alarm that something was amiss. That was a great comfort to us being thirty miles away in Wichita.

Another mainstay in Phil's life was his longtime friend and former neighbor, Marsha Fraas.  Marsha grew up in the house next door and knew both Roxie and Phil.  For years now, Marsha was a weekly visitor during which time she would take care of housekeeping chores.  Marsha was another of his "on-the-scene Peeps" upon whom we relied for the occasional intervention when the alarm didn't get set or turned off correctly, or Phil didn't answer his phone, and the more frequent occasions to otherwise provide assistance to Phil.  She was an invaluable friend to Phil and a huge help to us in the last year of his life.

Phil lived in the same house he and Roxie shared in Wellington until March of 2022 when he moved to Wichita to live with his son Charlie and his wife Terese.

Phil was predeceased by his parents, sister Ruth (Jack) Wicker, brothers Jack (Eileen) and Bob (Betty) Gwinner, and granddaughter Emily R. L. Gwinner.

He leaves behind son Charlie, daughter-in-law Terese R. Lewis, grandsons Lucas M. L. Deaton and Phillip C. L. Gwinner, great-granddaughter Kayleigh R. Deaton, nephews Kent (Kathy) Wicker, Craig (Brenda) Gwinner, and niece Nanette (Nan) Wooten (Coy), and numerous great and great-great nephews, and nieces.  He will be missed by all who knew him and remembered always for the kind soul and gentleman that he was.

In lieu of flowers Phil wished to establish a memorial at First United Methodist Church, 202 W Harvey Ave, Wellington, KS. 67152. (316-326-7403).

Frank Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.