Barry Corbin (1971)

I have been trying for the last few day, and I just can’t seem to remember ever “meeting” Phil Silver.
 We went through school together, we were in school band together, even in a rock band with Garry Seay, Jackie Patterson, and Scotty Rodgers. We went to church together, Phil even had to drive when I went on a date. (I wasn’t old enough to have license) so we double dated a lot. Phil went to my family reunions and was around so much, he even got the traditional “cheek pinch” from my grandmother. We rode motorcycles together and Phil even showed me the correct way to “crash” a motorcycle (several times!). We pretty much grew up together. But, I just don’t remember when I met Phil. He has always just been there. Phil was kinda like a salt shaker in a restaurant, you know it will always be there.
 Anyone who knew my dad knows he was a funny man and could make anyone laugh, but very few people could make him laugh. Red  Skelton, Bro. Dave Garner, (a comedian from the 60’s), and Phil Silver could make my dad laugh.
One day, years ago, my dad decided to buy the family a swimming pool. He went all out and got a “good one” it had 4 blow up rings, was maybe 6 feet across and held almost 8 inches of water!
 I decided to have some fun with Phil, so I called him and said, “Hey Phil, dad has bought us a new swimming pool. You want to come over and swim?” Phil said, “Sure, I’ll be right over.”
 Phil only lived a short way from me and I could hear his car as soon as he left his driveway. I heard Phil drive up, I waited, and waited, then I heard Phil screaming like a banshee, come running wide open from behind our house wearing a bathing suit, swimming flippers, goggles, and a snorkel, arms flapping and legs wobbling because of the flippers. He made a belly flop into the 8 inches of water, (which completely emptied when he hit it) he started kicking and swimming as if he was diving the Great Barrier Reef. About 3 feet of his legs were on the grass on one side of the pool and his face was in the grass on the other side of the pool, but he still swam for all it was worth. At this time my four-year old sister, who was in the pool, climbed on his back and he suddenly became Shamu the Whale riding Sandee across the ocean. My dad was sitting beside the pool an a chair and when I looked at him, it looked like someone had taken a bucket of water and poured it over his head, his hair was stringing down his face and he wasn’t saying anything. I thought Phil and me both were about to really get it. Then I realized my dad was laughing so hard it couldn’t talk.
 Phil and me spent the rest of the evening in the pool. Well, Phil had his head in a chair on one side of the pool, his back in the pool, and his feet in a chair on the other side, while my sister splashed water on him. My job was to keep the water in the pool.
 About thirty years later, I was at the hospital with my dad just before he passed away. We were just sitting there watching tv or whatever, when out of the blue, my dad turned to me and said, “you know that Phil is a NUT!” I said, “WHAT?” He said, “you remember that time when he came over to the house and DOVE into that swimming pool?” I said, “ HOW could I ever forget that?” He said, “ You know, that was one of the funniest things I ever saw! He’s a NUT!” I had to agree.
 Over the years, Phil and I had grown apart, but I still saw him here and there and, like the old salt shaker, I knew he would be there if I needed him. I’m going to miss being able to call or stop by and see him, but I know I will see Phil again someday. And when I get to Heaven, after the initial greetings, the first thing I want to do is ask God for a very small favor, and if he grants my wish, I’m going to stand in front of God…..or maybe I better stand behind Him and say, “watch this God!” Then I’ll call Phil and say, “Hey Phil…God just got us a new swimming pool. You want to come over and swim???
 Rest in peace my brother.
 

Elmarie Mathis (Celatka) (1972)

Reading this just made my day.What a wonderful story! I am home sick today and did not want to sit in front of the tv so I thought I would get on our reunion site and finally go through each class year and see who I could recall.Many,many faces I remembered, but, if I had to put a name with them I wouldn't have been able to.

It brought sadness also to see so many are now deceased.Though many years have passed since our days at Eastbrook,when I think of them it is as if it they were yesterday.I see all my classmates as they were in school,not as they are now.

Your memories of Phil are priceless, and he couldn't be any closer than that.