Philip Arthur Vance

Philip “Phil” Arthur Vance passed away at the age of 71 on July 23, 2025 in Edgewood, Washington of pancreatic cancer. He was born on April 4, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Phil grew up in Raytown, Missouri and graduated Summa Cum Laude in chemistry from the University of Missouri. He attended medical school at MU School of Medicine, followed by residency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he formed lifelong friendships. He then served a two year stint in Anoka, Minnesota as Medical Director of a neighborhood clinic.

In his undergraduate days, Phil and Jenny Swearingen met on a blind date on the front steps of his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. They married in 1979 and had three beautiful children: Ryan, Rebecca and Sarah.

In 1985, the family moved to the Pacific Northwest, where Phil opened a solo family practice in Tacoma, Washington. He and Jenny built a home in Gig Harbor and he practiced medicine for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2017.

Phil loved being “Grandpa” to his five wonderful grandchildren: Ella (10) and Lucy (8) of Ryan and Ashley Vance (married 2011), and Sienna “Sisi” (9), Gavin (7), and Gray (3) of Rebecca and Bryan Papé (married 2007).

Phil and Jenny were married for 39 years until Jenny’s death, also of pancreatic cancer, in 2018.

Phil later got to know Terri Conger, when she became his financial advisor. He wanted to ask her out but didn’t quite have the nerve to do it in person – so he sent an email instead. Luckily, she said yes. From there, they fell in love, got married, bought a home in Edgewood, traveled together, and shared countless adventures.

Phil also gained four additional children: Trevor (wife Makaila), Kendal (husband Benjy), Austin, and Camille (husband Jace) as well as nine grandchildren: Abigail (6), Baker (3), Elsie (14), Archer (12), Payton (8), Mason (6), Cole (9), Caden (7), and Amelia (3).

Phil is survived by his wife Terri, his children and grandchildren, and his brother, Rick (wife Jan) Vance, and sister, Gayle (husband Steve) Lieberman.

God has called Phil home, and at this very time he is at the feet of the risen Christ. Phil’s ardent, yet humble prayer is that Christ is telling him he has finished the race and fought the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7) … “well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)