J Phil Largent 28 Oct 1930 - 24 Feb 2014

J. Philip, "Phil" Largent was born October 28, 1930 in Pasco, Washington to Lawrence and Gertrude (Knipes) Largent. He was the middle of three Largent boys. They lived on a farm in the Kahlotus area until the family moved to Onecho when he was three. He attended the Long Hollow School District #66 near his home. Phil was active in 4-H, ran the mile in track events and was an avid boxer. He was graduated from Colfax High School in 1947 at the age of 16. Phil went to Washington State College for a year, took a year hiatus, and then went back and completed his degree in business in 1952. Having been in ROTC in college, Phil accepted a commission in the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lt.  near the tail end of the Korean Conflict and served as an M.P. in Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1954. 

 

Phil Largent 1948 high school graduation

LT Phil Largent 1952

He moved to Boston where he began work on his MBA at Harvard. He returned to Colfax and married Josephine Hope Munn on December 26, 1955 in Seattle. The couple went back to Boston where he completed his Master’s degree in 1957. With their newly started family, Phil and Josephine moved to Hermiston, Oregon where he worked in accounting and bookkeeping for a farm Co-op. They moved to Walla Walla a short time later and in 1961 moved back to the family farm at Onecho where he joined his brother Dick in the operation of the farm. 

1969 Phil Largent family:  Michael, Phil, Josephine, Susan, and Elizabeth

Phil was very active in the Onecho Church, served on the school board, was a founding member of the Bank of Whitman, served on the board of the Almota Elevator Company and various other community minded projects. Family was extremely important to Phil and he loved spending quality time with all of his family. His life was forever changed in 1982 when a devastating car accident claimed the lives of his daughter Susan, her husband Don, and granddaughter Tia Elizabeth Pierce.  Phil and Josephine moved into the town of Colfax in 1991, and she later passed away in 1995.

Phil was very active in Gideon’s International and an avid supporter and board member of the Whitman County Chaplaincy.  While on a Heritage Club tour to Branson, Missouri, Phil re-connected with a life-long friend, Leslie Rubin Looney. They married July 19, 1997 in Colfax. Phil and Leslie loved to travel together and enjoyed many fun trips. Phil suffered a stroke six years ago that left him handicapped and Leslie remained his steadfast caregiver. 

Phil passed asway on Monday 24 Feburary 2014 at age 83.  He is survived by his wife, Leslie, at their Colfax home; two children, Michael & Audrey Largent, Colfax, and Elizabeth & Roy Anderson, Spokane; three step-children, Nancy & Jerry Wilson, Spokane, Sally & Martin Barraclough, Salt Lake City, UT, and Jean & Jeff Dorgay of Vancouver, WA; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren as well as his brother, Larry and his wife Kristen Largent of Worley, ID. He was also preceded in death by his older brother Richard “Dick” Largent last year. The family suggests memorial gifts to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 122, Colfax, WA. 99111 or to Circles of Caring Adult Day Health, 225 E. Palouse River Dr., Moscow, ID. 83843. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax was in charge of arrangements with burial at the Onecho Cemetery.