Phillip "Phil" Patrick Carroll Jr. died March 17, 2019, St. Patrick's Day, at 10:41 a.m., exactly 74 years to the day after he married his late wife, Lillie Bernice Kelly Carroll of Gainesville, who died in 1995. He died after a two-day downward physical spiral, and he was lucid until the end.
Phil was a native Floridian raised in Haines City. After graduating from the University of Florida College of Engineering in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy and served as engineering officer on the USS Cony (DD-508). He then worked at Food Machinery Corporation in Lakeland developing food-cropping machinery and then for Fosgate in Orlando building the first concentrated orange juice plant. As a DuPont Construction Division employee, he supervised the pipefitters building the Savannah River nuclear fuel plant. In 1955, he was transferred with DuPont to Wilmington, Del. He spent the rest of his career in engineering and management positions. He was a manager at the Mechanical Development Laboratory building one-of-a-kind machines primarily for the textile and shoe industry. He managed DuPont’s Mechanical Consulting group. His last job was leading engineering’s quality assurance team, which consisted of more than 300 engineers worldwide.
His best friends were the folks who worked for him and his neighbors. He and Bernice reveled in giving dinner parties at home. He always enjoyed a Manhattan before dinner. People describe him as a consummate Southern gentleman. Phil was known for his wit, wisdom, and sense of humor. He was an avid card and poker player. He had an amazing workshop and enjoyed home projects and fixing Bernice’s antiques. He and Marguerite spent many years seeing the world including Antarctica, Africa, China, the Pacific Islands, South America, and Alaska. He was an avid Gators fan.
Phil is survived by their son, Phillip "Flip" Patrick Carroll III of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and grandson, Phillip “Patrick” Carroll IV of Lakeland. Bernice and Phil’s other child, Catherine Christine Carroll Smith, died on June 6, 2017 but is survived by her husband, Maurice Elmer Smith, and daughter, Sarah Christine Carroll Still and her husband, Aaron Still. Phil was preceded in death by both of his siblings, Sr. Mary Michelle Carroll, Mother Superior in the Sisters of Mercy, and Joanne Payne of Houston, Texas. Phil’s second wife, Marguerite Carroll, preceded him in death on August 30, 2017 and is survived by her daughter, Dyanne Hughes; son, Neal Aker and wife Sharon Aker; and son, Jim Aker and wife Debbie Aker. Marguerite’s grandchildren are Logan Aker and wife Jennifer, Scott Aker, Keith Aker and wife Heather, and Kimberly Aker. Great-grandchildren are Stella, Nora, and Maya.
Phil passed away with the same silver hair combed straight back that he gained in his 30s. He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be missed dearly.
Phil's service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019 at St. Michael Catholic Church, located at 505 Broome St. in Fernandina Beach, Fla. A reception will immediately follow at the Osprey Village Senior Community dining room, Floor 1, 74 Osprey Village Drive, Amelia Island, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research, 110 E. 42nd St., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors