Phillip Walter Kolody

Phil was born in Chicago to Walter Kolody and Beatrice Skibicki Kolody. He was raised in a Polish Catholic community within Chicago. He married Carol Skrzenta in 1965. They had two daughters, Kimberly born in 1968, and Carla born in 1971. Phil married Linda Myhre Moses in 1980. Their son Andrew was born in 1982.

After graduating, he attended DePaul University, learned accounting, and served in the Army Reserves, all while continuing to work in a variety of accounting positions. From 1966 to 1986, Phil worked as an accountant with increasing levels of responsibility in various divisions and subsidiaries of Bendix Corporation. Those jobs took him on a big tour, from Chicago, to Sedro-Woolley, Mexico City, Houston, and Philadelphia. In 1986, Phil left Bendix to return to Bellingham to be closer to family. He quickly got a job at LFS as Controller, was promoted to President in 1991, and stayed with LFS for the next 30 years. Phil loved his work because it was his calling.

Phil loved his family, so he also loved his work because it allowed him to provide for them. He took delight in each of his three children. He and the family treasured their annual summer trips to Whistler, BC. He also loved dinners, phone calls, and trips to visit family wherever they were. He would provide handyman help whenever he could. Phil celebrated with them in their joys and stayed with them in their sorrows.

Phil was always involved in his community. He served as an altar boy, sang in the choir, taught CCD, served many years on the board of First Presbyterian Church, belonged to Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Club. He played baseball, was an excellent bowler and a persistent golfer. He loved to eat out. He enjoyed a few cruises, but his favorite vacation travel was by car, and he didn’t need to go far. He and Linda did many back road trips, taking in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and British Colombia.

When Phil came home from work, he never pulled out his briefcase and worked at home. However, over the course of his life, he was relentlessly driven to get to work a few minutes earlier and earlier. By his later years at LFS, he was arriving around 4am. He would warm up the building, make the coffee and review reports. He would also pray, and he prayed for many and did not forget them once he started. He said he didn’t worry too much about asking for the right thing, because God always proved to have a better answer that Phil had never thought of.

Phil listened more than he spoke, was the master of making a long story short, and eliminated even more words by gesturing with his hands. He was steady, diligent, principled, humble, and kind.

Phil was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Joan Hostynski in Chicago, his wife Linda, daughters Kim Bjorklund (Tom), and Carla Bromley; son Andrew Kolody; grandchildren Neva Bjorklund, Olivia Bjorklund Barnes (Ian) Samantha Bromley, Wyatt Bromley, Grace Bromley, and Vivian Bromley and numerous other beloved relatives.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Tuesday, February 6th at First Presbyterian Church, 1031 North Garden St. Bellingham. If you are unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed at tinyurl.com/PKolodyMemorial.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lighthouse Mission Ministries, P.O. Box 548, Bellingham, WA 98227, indicating it is for the new facility.