Phillip Hanby Wach

Phillip Hanby Wach was born July 31, 1936 to Stanley Jenkins Wach and Ann Hanby Wach in Hood River, Oregon.  He died November 18, 2024 of old age complicated by Parkinson's disease at home in St. George, Utah. 

He attended schools in Hood River, received a BS from the University of Oregon and an MS from Utah State University, both in geology. Phil served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints in the Western Canadian Mission, 1957-1959. During his life he was a diligent member of the Church, serving four times as Bishop, and a counselor in a stake presidency, home teacher, scout leader, Gospel Doctrine and Primary teacher, and indexing leader. He later served mission with his wife in the Germany-Dusseldorf Mission, 1994-1995.

After Phil was employed by Gulf Oil Company, Mountain Fuel Supply, and May Petroleum, he chose to be self-employed and was successful enough to retire in 1985 at age 49.

He married Elizabeth O1son in the Logan, Utah Temple on July 13, 1961. Their children are Diana Wach Evensen (Eric) of Spokane, Washington, Christopher Wach, (who died in 2014,) and spouse Ricki Wach,( now married to Val Cook) of Centerville, Utah, Laurel Wach Clififord (Brian) of Lake Havasu City Arizona,and David Wach (who died also in 2014), and his spouse, Marla Wach of Eugene,Oregon. Phil also lost a daughter, Camille Ruthanne Wach at age 7 months. In addition are two Navajo daughters, Armeda Benally and Sandee Capitan, and a Chinese "adopted" family, Mou HaiQing Ludlow (Chase) of South Jordan, Utah.

Phil loved trains, especially steam locomotives and chased them in China, Chile (the Andes), Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe. and delighted in the opportunity to help drive one in China. He took his family and a neighbor boy to Europe,. rented a car and traveled through western Europe and Great Britain. He and his family back-packed the Pacific Crest Trail from the Columbia River to Crater Lake National Park. With his wife he bicycled across the US A from the Pacific to the Atlantic twice and also from El Paso to Canada. Phil visited all 50 states, and enjoyed exotic places, such as the Great Slave Lake in Canada, Antarctica. Iceland, Greenland, Cambodia, often taking cruises to reach them. His favorite foreign adventure was the three years he spent teaching English in Chinese Universities.