Philip G. Mack Jr.
October 6, 1923 – November 25, 2014
Philip G. Mack, Jr., 91 yrs old, passed away from natural causes on November 25, 2014.
He is survived by his wife, Randi Carroll, and two sons, David P. Mack of Renton, Wa., and Douglas R. Mack of Olympia, WA., and their families.
He had a lifelong passion for aviation, starting as a very young man when he enlisted in the Army Air Force to fight in WWII. He was assigned as a co-pilot in a B-17 in the 8th Airforce during the European campaign. Towards the end of his tour of duty in 1944 he was moved to the left seat and finished his 26th mission helping train new crews. After he returned to the states, he continued flying with the Army Air Force researching and developing guided bomb technology. For his service to his country, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After his military service he earned an Aeronautical Engineering degree from Purdue University, where he also met Alice Ann (better known as “Eppie”) Coppess. They were married in 1950. After graduation, Phil was involved in development of several commercial aviation operations, finally landing in Seattle with the Boeing Company in 1961. His Boeing career started in engineering but eventually led him into technical sales, working mostly with private buyers interested in custom outfitted jetliners. His career in aviation took him around the world, but the Seattle area was home for over 50 years.
As a long time Bellevue resident he was active in the community with various organizations, and had stints coaching and refereeing in the local soccer club. He was a long term member of the Quiet Birdmen and editor for the “Ragged Irregular” newsletter, two ex -WWII aviator organizations. He co-authored a book published by the Seattle Museum of Flight, “The B-17 Remembered.”
After Eppie was taken by cancer, he met a kindred spirt in Randi Carroll. They married in 1993 and enjoyed playing golf and cheering on the Seahawks at their home in Fairwood.
No funeral will be held. He will be buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Maple Valley.