Phillip G. Ulrich

Phillip G. Ulrich, age 88, of Northville, formerly a longtime resident of Dearborn, passed away on February 5, 2023. He was born on December 23, 1934 in Sturgis, Michigan; son of Alvin and Mildred (Kribs) Ulrich.  He spent his childhood in Dearborn and graduated from Dearborn High School; Class of 1953.  Following high school, he proudly served his country as a Private First Class in the United States Army.  Phillip was united in marriage to D. Joan Barrows on August 17, 1957; they spent 65 loving years devoted to one another until her death on October 2, 2022.

While living in Dearborn, Phillip began a career with Ford Motor Company, where he met Joan who would eventually become his wife.  He attended Henry Ford Community College with the Ford Technical Program and earned an Associate degree in drafting.  Phillip continued his success with Ford as a designer and engineer. Phillip and Joan had three children, David, John, and Julie. Phillip was very involved in their upbringing. He attended their sporting events; coached their teams; taught them how to ski and play tennis; told the best bedtime stories that centered around Brer Rabbit and a Tar Baby ; and much more. Every year, he and Joan packed the family of five into their vinyl, wood sided, Ford station wagon and set off to places such as Florida, Lake Tahoe, Cape Cod, Washington D.C., and Lake City, Michigan, to name a few. Education was very important to him. He proudly told many that he supported all three of his children through their undergraduate work. In fact, he nominated himself an honorary Spartan since he jokingly stated, “That’s where most of my money went!” In 1983, the kids were grown, so he accepted a promotion with Ford and moved with Joan to Mexico for four years. Once again, Phil made the most of this life opportunity. In addition to the promotion to Plant Manager, he took Spanish lessons, hosted his new Mexican friends in his casita, and traveled throughout Mexico, embracing the people and culture. Thereafter, he moved back to Michigan and settled in Northville.   Following retirement in 1992, he moved to Sun City Grand in Surprise, Arizona. Together, Phil and Joan made the most of retirement life by swimming, hiking, playing golf and tennis, traveling the southwest, and hosting cocktail parties. Phil also took up a new hobby while in Arizona which was photography.  His landscape photos of Arizona and Northern Michigan were showcased in several art shows and even won awards.  Phillip had recently moved back to Northville to be closer to family.

In his younger adult years, Phillip was also a member of Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church in Dearborn, where he served as an Elder and Sunday school teacher. He accompanied the youth pastor and a gaggle of teens on mission trips with the goal of helping those less fortunate. He also relished his role as a shepherd in the church’s annual Boar’s Head production. Throughout his life, he loved the outdoors. He spent many hours in a boat fishing, casting flies across rivers, and stomping through brush hunting ruffed grouse and pheasant. Phillip was an avid bird hunter and was proud of the dogs he trained to help him on his hunts.

Phillip lived life to its fullest and loved spending time with his grandchildren who adoringly called him “Papa.”  He cherished the time they spent at his cottage on Lake James in Prudenville, Michigan and in Arizona where he could share with them all of his favorite pastimes.  He spent time traveling with family, taking trips with the Eagle Scouts, attending graduations, learning sign language, and even treated his whole family to an Alaskan Cruise to celebrate his and Joan’s 50 ^th wedding anniversary.  He recently decided to move to Rose Senior Living, where he was referred to as the “Poster Boy” of senior living.  He took advantage of all they had to offer and remained active with friends, singing in the choir, working out, going to the movies, and had even been planning to take a cruise down the Mississippi.  Despite losing his wife and facing health challenges, Phillip held a firm belief that life was for living, a conviction he lived by until the end.

He is survived by his children, David Ulrich, John (Kate) Ulrich, and Julie (Chris) Warum; his grandchildren, Clayton (Katie), Michael, Kelly, Ethan, Zachary, and Jane; his great grandson, Greyson; his sisters-in-law, Joan Ulrich and Linda (Al) Eger; and his brothers-in-law, Garth Barrows and John (Jan) Barrows.  He was preceded in death by his wife, D. Joan Ulrich; his parents, his brother Richard “Dick” Ulrich; his sisters-in-law, Marilyn Ascencio, Maureen Barrows, and Thelma Barrows; and his brother-in-law, Gilbert Ascencio.

Memorial Visitation will be held Sunday, February 26, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville.  Immediately following, a Celebration of Life will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Genittis Restaurant, 108 E. Main St., Northville.  In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to Living and Learning Enrichment Center , 801 Griswold, Northville, MI 48167.  Please note In Memory of Phillip Ulrich on the donation.