Lt. Col. Philip Ernest Maggart, 94, Marion, passed away at 4:20 am on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at his home with his sons by his side. He was born in Marion, Indiana, on February 15, 1931, to Orville and Myrtle (Swope) Maggart.
Lt. Col. Maggart graduated from Marion High School in 1949. After graduating from Ball State University in 1953, he joined the United States Air Force and attended pilot school in Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas. He was then transferred to Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, with the 4th Fighter Bomber Wing. He returned to the CONUS and had Helicopter Instructor Pilot assignments in Texas and Nevada. He went on to Illinois and another overseas assignment to Tripoli, Libya, with the Royal Libyan Air Force. He was then assigned to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., later volunteering for duty in Vietnam as Air Advisor to the Vietnamese Air Force. Follow-on tours were in Elmendorf, Alaska, and Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio, where he retired in 1976. He was Command Pilot and holder of the Bronze Star, Air Medals, Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Honor Medal, National Defense Medal, The Vietnamese Meritorious Service Medal, and The State of Alaska Distinguished Service Medal. After departing the Air Force, he was employed by TRW, INC., in Teheran, Iran, as Assistant Program Manager for Logistics to the Royal Iranian Air Force. He returned to Marion in 1979 and was employed by American National Can, where he retired in 1992.
He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Samaritan Lodge 105, Valley of Fort Wayne Scottish Rite, Mizpah Shrine Temple (Past President of Mizmur Shrine Club), Court 27 of The Royal Order of Jesters, United States Air Force Association, The Retired Officers Association, and USAF Helicopter Pilots Association.
Phil married the former Carol Lois Fogle on July 10, 1953, who preceded him in death on August 23, 2022. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Paul F. Maggart, Sr., and Charles L. Maggart.
He is survived by two children, Charles Landon Maggart of Idaho Falls, ID, and John Zachary Maggart of Greensboro, NC; four grandchildren, Alex Grady Maggart, Cidnee Elyse Maggart, Emma Grace Maggart, and John William Maggart; and many beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The family would like to thank his two special helpers, Caitlin and Sam, his friends and neighbors, and Heart to Heart Hospice for the loving care they provided.
The family will receive visitors from 10:30 am to 11:30 am on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Immediately following the visitation, a service to celebrate Phil’s life will begin at 11:30 am with Chaplain Les Turner officiating. A graveside service will take place at 1:00 pm at Marion National Cemetery.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
