Phillip Conklin, Former Vice Mayor of Sahuarita

Phillip D. Conklin, former resident of Milford MI, and a full-time resident of Green Valley AZ, has passed away.

Mr. Conklin was a retired elementary school principal in the Milford, Michigan Public Schools where he served for 25 years.  In 1986, the Milford High School graduating class honored him by selecting him their Commencement Speaker for Graduation.  He had also been a school principal in Garden City, MI, and was the first Registrar of the Oakland Community College, 1965-67.  He was a member of the Valle Verde Rotary Club where he served as scholarship chair for several years, and he and his wife Connie are Paul Harris Fellows in Rotary International.  Phil was a member of the Valley Presbyterian Church where he served as Stephen Minister and a Stephen Leader for ten years, and the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel where he served for 3 years as the president of Tucson/Green Valley Chapter.  Phil was a volunteer instructor for the AARP course "55 Alive" for mature drivers, and served for 2 years on the Architecture/Landscape Committee, and two years as a resident board member for the Homeowners Association of Quail Creek.  He also served as a trustee of the Great Expectations Academy Charter School.

In November of 2003, Phil was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Sahuarita, AZ Town Council.  He was subsequently elected in 2005 to fill a two-year term, and again in 2007 and 2011 to fill four-year terms.  During those eight years while he was a member of the town council, the town selected the site for and erected the current Sahuarita Town Hall.  Members elected him to serve as Vice Mayor of the Town of Sahuarita, a position he held for 4 years.

He is survived by his wife, Connie, and his children, Shelley M. (Tom) Dunkin, David O. (Wendy) Conklin, Miles A. Conklin, and Kim E. Johnson.  He is survived also by three stepchildren: Webb (Beth) Colgrove, Marcia (Dennis) Yockers, and Kelley Riedel.  He is survived by his grandchildren:  Bradley and Jacob Conklin, Jazzmine Berven, Travis Hill and Cheyenne Melick, Gretchen Kleinsasser and Janet Yockers, Amber and Joshua Colegrove, David and Valerie Riedel, and several great grandchildren.

Phil has requested there be no memorial service and that his remains be interred in the Milford Memorial Cemetery next to his late wife, Carol Colegrove Conklin who predeceased him in 1987.

Memorial contributions may be made to:  The Scholarship Fund c/o The Posada Life Foundation, 350 E Morningside Rd, Green Valley, Arizona.