Philip C. Heywood

Phil Heywood, age 95, died on November 17, 2024. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth, who passed in June 2019. 

Phil was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Vincent Eaton Heywood and Gwenna Crane Heywood. In 1953 he married Ruth Lindenberg and together they raised 3 daughters, Betsy Nicolli (Rob)of St. Charles, MO, Ellen McMahon (John) of Tigard, OR, and Ginny Graves of Bend, OR. Phil leaves behind six grandchildren, Melissa, Sarah, Emma, Cori, Robbie, and Bryce, one great grandson, Avery, and two very dear nieces, Laurie and Lucie.

Phil graduated from Worcester Academy in 1947 and Colby College in 1951. He moved to Indianapolis, IN after graduation to start his career in the life insurance business. He met Ruth through the First Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. They lived and raised their children in Indianapolis and then Cincinnati, OH. Phil was the president and chief executive officer of Inter-Ocean Insurance Company in Cincinnati. He held both CLU and RHU designations. Phil began working for State Mutual in 1980 and in 1981 was elected the Regional Sales Vice President. In 1983 Ruth and Phil moved to Worcester, MA where Phil was named the Vice President of Brokerage Sales. Phil retired from State Mutual in 1991.

Phil was very involved in the Worcester community. He served as treasurer and a board member of First Baptist Church of Worcester. Phil was a former president and honorary life-time board member of Elder Services of Worcester, a board member of Mass Care Home, and a board member and trustee of Salem Community Corp. Phil was a member of the Bohemians and the Torch Club of Worcester. Ruth and Phil were docents for the Worcester Art Museum.

Phil and Ruth were married for 65 years and shared their love of travel and gardening. They were avid card players of bridge, cribbage, and Oh Hell. Phil was a devoted father to his three girls and an original “Girl Dad”. He was there for every lesson, practice, meet and performance.

Phil was a positive influence for everyone he came to know and he made lasting friendships everywhere he lived. He was a host father in 1974 for Christian Mueller, a foreign exchange student from Germany, and continued that friendship for 50 years. At age 94, Phil relocated to Portland, OR to be near and cared for by his daughter Ellen and her family.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Lutheran Home of Southbury in Southbury, CT, West Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center in Portland, OR and Brighton Hospice of Oregon for their compassion and support for Phil.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations can be made to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Please visit www.nebg.org/donation and note Phil’s name at the bottom of the page. Contact information for the family should be listed as: Ginny Graves gingraves@comcast.net. Checks can be sent to: WCHS, PO Box 598, Boylston, MA 01505.