In Loving Memory

Phillip Kay Potter

June 20, 1934 - February 2, 2025

Phillip Kay Potter, son of Bernard J. Potter and Augusta Keyser, was born in Towanda, PA, on June 20th, 1934. He attended St. Agnes School and graduated from Elmira High School in Elmira, NY. He worked for Hardinge Brothers in Elmira before enlisting in the US Coast Guard in 1955. He became a fire control technician on a Coast Guard Cutter and served for 4 years, traveling extensively.

As a joke, a shipmate submitted his name to G.I. Joe Magazine as a lonely sailor at sea along with contact details. It turns out that his future wife, Dorothy, read that small entry in that issue of that magazine and wrote back to the victim of that practical joke. Phil and Dorothy were pen pals for over two years while romance bloomed. They fell in love and were married in 1959. They were married for 65 blessed years. Together they raised 5 sons and a daughter, all of whom know that they owe their existence to a comic book. It somehow seems fitting. They were all sent to a Catholic school to get a good head start on this life, and the next.

The Vitro Corporation, a DOD contractor, offered Phil a job after he got out of the Coast Guard. He worked primarily on the Aegis Combat System as an interface control specialist. His family was growing and they were all transferred to the West Coast, Washington State and California. Eventually, they were transferred back to Maryland where he remained for the rest of his career. He worked for Vitro for 40 years.

Phil was active in the church, starting out as an altar boy. Many of his sons followed in those footsteps. He was a cantor, a choir member, and an active member of the church community.

He loved baseball, working as a semi-pro catcher as a young man. He enjoyed watching the Washington Nationals and playing bridge with family and friends.

We love him and honor him with his passing on February 2nd, 2025. Flowers can be sent to:

St. John Neumann Catholic Church
9000 Warfield Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20882

To arrive at 10AM on Feb 18th, 2025. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John Neumann Catholic Church or

Mother of God Community
20501 Goshen Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20879