Philip Saxton Gilmore Jr. of Onset died Wednesday, June 15 at his home. Born in Brockton, he was the son of the late Philip Sr. and Mary (Beaton) Gilmore.

Phil lived in Brockton, raised his family in South Deerfield and retired in Onset. He was married to Effie (Bargerstock), his wife of 57 years until her death in 2010. He is survived by his sons; Philip Gilmore III and his wife Veronica Mard and Mark Gilmore and his wife Vonnie all of South Deerfield, Blake Gilmore and Dawn Tenney of Wareham, and Shawn Gilmore and his fiancé Sharon Foster of Newport, Rhode Island. Beloved by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Matthew Gilmore and his son Ethan, Emily Gilmore and Misha Goodman and their daughter Alexandra, Hayley and Adrian Gilmore and their children Olivia and Hannah, Sarah and her husband Brian Mosio and their children Danielle and Garrett, Rick and his wife Sarah Mard and their children David, Aric, Jarod, and Myra, and Tom Callow and Owen Gurner. Phil was preceded in death by his sister Ann (Gilmore) Miranda and brother-in-law Everett Miranda, and is survived by sisters (Mary) Belle Gilmore, Ellen (Gilmore) Lehane and her husband Tim Lehane, and a large devoted family of nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as friends, neighbors, and communities across the state. His faithful canine companion Jag will miss him.

Phil served as a gunner on a PBY Catalina seaplane in the U.S. Navy during World War II until he was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon completion of his service, he attended UMass Amherst and graduated in the class of 1950. He and Effie were married in 1953, raising their family in South Deerfield. Phil worked as a pharmaceutical rep at A.H. Robbins/Pfizer for many years, retiring in 1988. He served South Deerfield as a little league coach, a member of the school committee, South Deerfield Fire Department and was the co-founder of the South Deerfield Rescue ambulance service. He was also a committee member and leader of Troop 66 of the Boy Scouts of America, an EMT instructor and a state examiner for the EMT boards. He was named Franklin County Citizen of the Year in 1984.

Phil and Effie spent their retirement years by the bay in Onset. They loved life by the water – taking boat rides, fishing, walking with the dog, as well as simply sitting together or visiting with friends, family and neighbors on the porch, in the fresh ocean air.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Monday, June 20 at the Wrisley Funeral Home, 90 Sugarloaf St., S. Deerfield, MA from 4 to 8 p.m. Visiting hours will also be held on Tuesday, June 21 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton.