J. Philip Stovall

August 24, 2016

Service Details

Memorial Services for J. Philip Stovall will be held at Grace Church, 4200 E. 25th Street, Des Moines, IA 50317 on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m.

"It is Well with My Soul," the first song Jay Philip Stovall will sing after going home August 24, 2016. He loved to sing harmony and played the trombone well after only three lessons. He was also known to sing only one line of a song, leaving his family waiting in suspense for the rest of the song, and many times he woke house guests by playing his trombone.

Phil was born April 29, 1933, in Des Moines, Iowa, and was strikingly similar to his father in appearance and strength of character, even though his father died when Phil was only two. At 11 he secured his first employment by asking for the head nun at the local hospital and convincing her he was the right man for whatever job she had. He pursued a wide variety of jobs, many which included his love of cars. At the age of 16, his life was transformed through a bold faith which continued and grew into a rich study and prayer life with his Creator, his wife, and his church family.

Phil served as a medic in the Army and was stationed in Korea. He introduced a fellow soldier to Jesus, and that soldier later introduced Phil to Naomi Grace. The two were married at Christmastime in 1959, and God granted them 57 years of marriage, two daughters, and five grandsons. Phil retired, several times, from being a teacher and a lawyer and had it not been for a stroke, would have found a way to teach law as a missionary in his late 70s. Over the years he served his family and his church and impacted countless lives through the organizations of Boy Scouts, Teen Challenge, Boys State, and the American Legion. He was a lover of dogs, cars, and people and was just as comfortable wearing a gag gift to a Christmas party as a suit to court. He was very generous and lived 30 years with heart disease. His heart was not weak or broken. God decided it was fully spent. His mind was still seeking the next adventure, but his heart had already given so much, and now it is well with his soul.

Phil Stovall is survived by his wife, Naomi, daughters, Dawn (Jamie) Gauld and Robyn (Kevin) Mengwasser, and five grandsons, Jonathon Gunner and Jeremy Gauld, Kyle (Melissa) Mengwasser, Luke Mengwasser, and Blake Mengwasser.

Phil would have appreciated any memorials be directed to Ottumwa Christian School or Grace Church.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print