Jon Phillip "Phil" Hamric1937-2016Jon Phillip Hamric, "Phil," died peacefully in Boise, Idaho on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016 after a long battle with dementia and renal cell carcinoma. His granddaughter wrote:"The hero and the rock of our family passed away. Phil's battle is now finished; he is no longer suffering and is in a better place. Phil was a role model to us all and an overall exceptional human being. God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers and throughout his battle against cancer and dementia he remained a huge inspiration to us all. Phil Hamric was a loving father, an adoring husband, and an inspirational grandfather to my family. Our love for you is unbreakable even when death separates us physically." Phil was born on July 7, 1937 in Lexington, Virginia to Claude Leon Hamric and Vera Withrow Hamric. He was one of the five "infamous" Hamric boys in Lexington. The brothers had nicknames for each other and Phil was lovingly named "Pencil" for his narrow, slim build. The boys grew up working on the farm, hunting for bears and helping out at the family's monument business. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1960 with a degree in Physics. He received the Excellence in Physics award for achieving the highest grade in his class. He completed graduate work at the University of Washington in Nuclear Engineering. He served in the US Army from 1961-1963 as an Artillery First Lieutenant. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Carol Adams on June 18, 1960. He and Carol met in elementary school. In the sixth grade, in order to get Carol's attention, Phil, who sat behind her, dipped her long braided pigtails in the ink well. He succeeded in getting her attention and in high school they fell truly and deeply in love. Phil and Carol were married for 56 years. After graduating from VMI, Phil began working for General Electric in production reactor physics support. In 1972, he took a position with the Department of Energy. He had various roles at the DOE in Idaho including Assistant Manager for Nuclear Programs, Acting Manager Idaho Operations Office and Director Special Isotope Separation Project Office. In 1990, Phil was named Deputy Manager for the Richland Operations Office and later was named Manager for the Ohio Field Office. He retired in 1997 and received the Distinguished Career Service Award upon his retirement. He was also presented the DOE's Meritorious Service Award in 1988, 1990 and 1997.The couple welcomed their first child, Lisa in 1966. Lisa adored Phil and they had a very special and unbreakable dad-daughter relationship. Phil was the most kind, loving, patient and all around wonderful father. He was an incredible role model and inspiration on how to be truly kind, ethical and authentic. Their second child Mark was born in 1969. Mark was born with severe mental retardation. Phil so loved Mark and was incredibly patient with him. Phil was actively involved in fundraising for the mentally retarded, specifically for facilities in Idaho Falls.Phil was a truly genuine individual who never left the house without his cowboy hat, bolo tie and western belt buckle. He had seen Westerns as a child and always wanted to enjoy the open spaces and beauty of the West. He loved to fish, hunt and camp in Idaho's wilderness. Campfires by the lake and songs by guitar and harmonica are highlights of all our lives. He enjoyed showing all his relatives and friends the outdoors of Idaho. He absolutely adored his grandchildren Jessica and Allison. He would get down on the floor with them to play. He even did a summersault at the park when asked to by his granddaughter. It led to a paramedic ride but he turned out to be OK. He went to countless volleyball games, basketball games, softball games and swim meets. Even as he was sick, he still came to watch his "grandgirls" play their sports. His belief in them was boundless! His eyes would light up when they came in the room or stepped on the court.Phil is survived by his wife Carol; children, Lisa Ross (Lawrence) and Mark; grandchildren Jessica and Allison; and his brother Lowell as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Claude Jr., Charles and Robert.Services are November 30 at 1:00 pm at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with celebration of life at Crane Creek Country Club. Arrangements are being handled by Cremation Society of Idaho. For those wishing to remember Phil with memorials, please send donations to the , St. Luke's Hospice Boise or the Association for Retarded Citizens.The family expresses deep gratitude to Dad's compassionate caregivers: Dr. Bill Bollinger, Sorcha Cusack, Michelle Ward, Dr. Meg McCarren, Dr. James Schrader, Chris Faulk, and the dedicated in-home caregivers from Havenwood, particularly Julian Diaz.