Alfred "Bill" Philo

Alfred "Bill" Philo, 60, Emerado, ND, died Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks.Alfred William (Bill) Philo was born September 17, 1957, in Lansing, MI, the 2nd of five children. He died in the hospital, with his wife at his side, on April 18, 2018, in North Dakota due to heart and lung complications. He and his wife, Jammy Lynn (Paris) Philo, have lived in North Dakota since 2014. He has one son, William Anthony Philo of Arkansas and nine grandchildren.  Bill was a man of many talents and skills. After getting out of the Army, he worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator. Bill went on to be an excellent commercial cook and was also a professional painter for several years. Eventually Bill went to work for the City of Houston in Alaska and got promoted to Director of Public Works; he was recognized for getting millions of dollars of grant money to build walking and 4-wheeler trails along the Parks Hwy. He moved back to the “Lower 48” and graduated from truck driving school with honors. He worked as a long-haul truck driver for over 14 years, achieving a rare feat: 2 million miles, accident free. He retired from that position about two years ago due to health issues.  Bill didn't know a stranger and had sparkling blue eyes and a big smile. He was an avid reader and read thousands of books in his lifetime; western books were his favorite. When he was younger, Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved fast cars and powerful trucks. He was born to travel and crossed the U.S. many times. He was a loving husband and son and a wonderful brother and will be missed by his family.  Bill was preceded in death by his father, William Arthur Philo and his mother, Lois Luella (Lawton) Philo-Ince. His siblings include Lori Kay Philo-Cook and husband Bill of Yukon, OK; Thomas Wayne Philo and wife Charlene of Kernersville, NC; Kelley Sue Hislop-Philo of Houston, AK; and Mary Anne (Philo) Powers and husband Doug of Talkeetna, AK. Bill’s family is planning a memorial service in Manton, MI in Aug. 2018, and his ashes will be interred at Caldwell Township Cemetery where his mother, grandparents and other family members are laid to rest.