Page 14 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Phil Marnon was a man years.
of the people. And peo- Phil spent 24 years driving semi-trucks in the
ple knew, if they needed local Detroit area, always home at night for
anything, they could his wife and growing family.
rely on Phil to help them. Phil finished his working career in 2004 when
“Can I get you any- he retired from L&W Engineering in Romulus,
thing?” MI. His entire family, including children and
“What do you need?” “What can I do?” grandchildren were at the company on his last
Philip Eugene Marnon passed away on Septem- day when the owners presented him with a
ber 1, 2025. Phil was born in Detroit, MI on three-wheel bike, one of his favorite posses-
March 8, 1942, the 6th out of 10 children to sions in retirement.
John and Margaret Marnon. Few knew that Retired or not, Phil could never stay still. He
he had been born prematurely and had suf- always had to be moving or busy. He took
fered from lung problems his entire life. It was daily jaunts out on his new bicycle, often dis-
advanced COPD complications that ultimately appearing for hours at a time. It seemed like
cut his life short. everyone in the neighborhood knew Phil, either
Speaking of short, he earned the nickname for his talkative nature or just because they
“Pee Wee” early in his career at Hazel Park saw him on his bike. He would pick up cans to
Racetrack where he went to work at age 16. recycle, stop at 7-Eleven on Annapolis in
He eventually worked in the stables for Marion Wayne to visit Mary and the other employees
Van Berg, one of the nation’s leading thorough- and buy his daily lottery tickets. He enjoyed
bred horse trainers and owners at the time. playing the lottery and often received scratch-
Phil was an exercise boy who raced horses off lottery tickets for his birthday and at
around in the morning and a hot walker who Christmas. His daughter said he always ran
walked horses after the races to help them into somebody he knew wherever he went.
cool down. He was recognized as the top ex- And if he didn’t know someone, that was
ercise boy in the country receiving a horse- okay; he would talk to them anyway. He al-
shoe-shaped pin as an award. Phil (the name ways had stories to tell to whoever would
means “lover of horses”) told many stories stop to listen. Phil is survived by his wife, Ali-
about his time on the racetrack, including the cia “Liz” Marnon, his daughter, Jacqueline
time Mrs. Van Berg found out Phil had a brand- “Jackie” Jones of Wayne, MI, and his sons
new baby sister, Donna, gave him some money Philip “Scott” (Stefani) of Juneau, AK and
and made him go to the store and get her a lit- Robert “Bobby” (Carolyn) of Westland, MI. He
tle dress. Even though he eventually returned is also survived by his grandchildren-John
to life in Detroit after five years on the race- Marnon, Alicia (Marnon) Bauer (Ricky), Ross
track, he never lost his love of horses, visiting Jones (Jordan), Sara Jones, Jake Marnon,
many more racetracks throughout the country. Sam Marnon and by his great-grandchildren,
In December 1963, Phil married his childhood Landon, Riley, Brodie and Luna. He is also sur-
sweetheart, Alicia “Liz” Barton, who lived in vived by three sisters-Gail, Rosemary and
the neighborhood. When he got drafted into Donna and his brother, Eddie and multiple
the Vietnam War, they made plans to marry nieces and nephews.
two weeks later. Fortunately, he did not pass Per his final wishes, Phil has been cremated
the physical due to his lung/asthma issues and and will have his ashes spread near a little
was sent home. He and Liz eventually bought church he loved visiting outside of Juneau, AK.
a home in Wayne, MI to raise their family and There will be a Celebration of Life, but a date
it is where they have lived for the past 58 has not yet been determined.

14 · October 2025 · The Wayne Dispatch