Phil Gilman Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Phil Gilman, 92, Topeka, Kansas, passed away June 27, 2019, at Brookdale Topeka Memory Care Facility. Phil was born January 27, 1927, in Topeka, the son of John and Frances Vollrath Gilman. He graduated from Topeka High School and received his Civil Engineer Degree from KU after serving two years in the United States Army during WWII. Phil spent one year in Okinawa. He worked for KDOT for 35 years. Phil met Elizabeth, the love of his life, on the Saturday Morning Bike Ride on July 20, 1974. He planned the first Cottonwood 200 Bike Ride. Phil helped with the routing of the first Biking Across Kansas in 1975. Phil proposed to Elizabeth in Sterling, halfway across the first BAK. They were married on the porch of the Ward-Meade Home on July 20, 1975. They went on many bike trips, seven times on BAK, from Topeka to Kalamazoo, Cape Cod, Denmark, etc. After retirement, it was time to buy a motor home to visit grandchildren in New Jersey and Texas, as well as the National Parks. They made it to all states except Hawaii. Phil took up photography again and put together many beautiful slide shows. Phil is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Jeanine Roberts (Tom), Flemington, New Jersey; granddaughter, Kerianne Johnson (David), Houston, Texas; grandsons, John and Christian, Topeka, and Josiah, Flemington; step-son, Bill McLeod, Fort Worth, Texas; step-granddaughter, Shayla Beard (Ricky); and two step-great-granddaughters, Morgan and Reagon, Odessa, Texas. He was preceded in death by his son, John. Celebration of Phil’s life will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at Lowman United Methodist Church, 4101 SW 15th Street, Topeka KS 66604. Phil’s body was donated to KU Med Center for Alzheimer Research. Memorial contributions may be made to Lowman United Methodist Church or Helping Hands Humane Society, 5720 SW 21st Street, Topeka KS 66604.

Phil Gilman

January 31, 1927 - June 27, 2019