Phillip E. Zimmerman

Phil Zimmerman passed from this life on Feb. 21, 2012, to go, as he put it, to "the great golf course in the sky." He was 90 years old.

Born in Shreveport, La., on Oct. 15, 1921, he spent his childhood in Nevada, Mo. He graduated from Nevada High School in 1939.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1941. Phil credited his wife, Faye, for saving his life when his plane was shot down in World War II. The five single men perished while all five married men survived. He spent two years as a POW in both Italy and Germany.

Phil attended the Army Command School in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was trained to speak Chinese at the Army Language School in Monterey, Calif., and served tours of duty in Taiwan, Germany, Hawaii and other bases throughout the U.S. He also served in Vietnam during the war. He retired as a full colonel from career military service to Florida in 1972, then worked as a realtor for many years and finally focused his efforts on golf.

Phil's joke telling and outgoing personality delighted many. He was a strong and loving man. One of his favorite phrases was, "I shot my age today at golf!"

He is survived by his wife, Faye (Ness) Zimmerman, of Glascow, Mont. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Dawn Zimmerman. He is also survived by his twin daughters and their spouses, Jan and Bill Ford, and Kay and Butch Hartzog, along with grandchildren, Derek, Lindsey (husband, Carter), Roan, Adrienne (great-granddaughter, Toree) and predeceased by Jessica.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Dillard Zimmerman, formerly of Nevada; his maternal aunt, Helen Hart and husband, Ben; and cousin, Marjorie Hart Carpenter, also of Nevada.

Online condolensces may be made at www.floridamemorialfh-gardens.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of St. Francis, Inc., under the name Phillip Zimmerman, at the following address: 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, FL 32780.