Phil Pautler died on February 1, 2008, age 56, at Hospice House in Spokane. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late in December, 2007.
Phil was the fourth of the five Pautler children and grew up in Walla Walla. Phil graduated from Eastern Washington University (I am guessing he had a BA in education). He was not successful in obtaining a teaching position, but spent a year as a VISTA volunteer working in the Virgin Islands; he also worked for one or two years in a mission school in NM. He obtained further education in art and advertising at Spokane Falls Community College and worked for a time in businesses where these skills were needed. He was employed at Immaculate Heart Retreat House as part of the support staff. That would have been circa 1980-85. Phil’s mental health became increasingly problematic. He was “paranoid schizophrenic.” Symptoms became more pronounced as he aged and he was under psychiatric care for many years, and medicated. He was able to obtain disability benefits. Eventually he returned to Walla Walla and lived with his parents, who cared for him, but as they aged, he became more of a caregiver for them. This was especially true after his dad’s death in 1999 when his mother (and Phil’s siblings) were very dependent on him to care for his mom! There were additional mental health crises that resulted in institutional care the last year of his life. He was living at Carlyle House in Spokane at the time of his final illness.
His artistic gifts were expressed in his paintings, drawings and calligraphy. Each of his siblings has at least one of his art works. Other relatives and friends have his paintings. There was a display of his art work at the old public library in WW.
Tim Kleespies
Phil Pautler died on February 1, 2008, age 56, at Hospice House in Spokane. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late in December, 2007.
Phil was the fourth of the five Pautler children and grew up in Walla Walla. Phil graduated from Eastern Washington University (I am guessing he had a BA in education). He was not successful in obtaining a teaching position, but spent a year as a VISTA volunteer working in the Virgin Islands; he also worked for one or two years in a mission school in NM. He obtained further education in art and advertising at Spokane Falls Community College and worked for a time in businesses where these skills were needed. He was employed at Immaculate Heart Retreat House as part of the support staff. That would have been circa 1980-85. Phil’s mental health became increasingly problematic. He was “paranoid schizophrenic.” Symptoms became more pronounced as he aged and he was under psychiatric care for many years, and medicated. He was able to obtain disability benefits. Eventually he returned to Walla Walla and lived with his parents, who cared for him, but as they aged, he became more of a caregiver for them. This was especially true after his dad’s death in 1999 when his mother (and Phil’s siblings) were very dependent on him to care for his mom! There were additional mental health crises that resulted in institutional care the last year of his life. He was living at Carlyle House in Spokane at the time of his final illness.
His artistic gifts were expressed in his paintings, drawings and calligraphy. Each of his siblings has at least one of his art works. Other relatives and friends have his paintings. There was a display of his art work at the old public library in WW.
Phil never married. He was a faithful Catholic.