Philip A. Faunda 1937-2025

He was born March 22, 1937, in Youngstown, the eldest child of the late Andrew and Natalie Pelic Faunda. He graduated from North High School in 1955.

Philip, known to his friends and family as Phil, was a virtuoso musician, a crack mechanic, a medic, a Baptist minister, and a devoted husband. Above all, he was gentle and kind. He married the love of his life, Dorothy Mae Greathouse, on April 19, 1958. (They met at the restaurant Tod’s, where Dorothy worked as a server. “He came in one night and wanted a hamburger,” she said. “Whoa, I didn’t let him go!”) They raised one beloved daughter, Tabitha, and two beloved grandchildren, Brandon and Jessica.

An inseparable couple, Phil and Dorothy traveled the country from Maine to California, often with a dog in tow. (Pal, their small beagle, once got stuck in a cactus in Arizona.) Together they went on everything from missionary trips in the Dakotas to sightseeing tours in New York City. Classically trained at the Dana School of Music, Phil was an exceptional keyboardist and vocalist. He and Dorothy recorded two Gospel albums, “Praise for the Lord” and “Their Journey to the Sky,” and performed regularly in their community.

He also served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1962, in Korea, where he dazzled his fellow service members by playing the accordion in a company band. “Everywhere we played,” a fellow musician wrote to Phil’s commanding officers in 1962, “your accordion-playing medic was a smash hit.” Phil also loved cars, including his “pride and joy” — a dolled-up 1952 Chrysler Saratoga, blue with a white top and chrome fenders.

For several years after leaving the military, Phil sold pianos and organs at the Shenango Valley Mall. Later, following in the footsteps of his father, Andy, he fixed and sold cars for 20 years at his shop, Faunda Auto, on Albert Street.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Faunda. Phil is survived by his wife, Dorothy Faunda of Youngstown; his daughter, Tabitha Kerr; two grandchildren, Jessica Kerr and Brandon Faunda; a great-granddaughter, Bella; his sisters, Marianne Hilderhoff, Emelia Appel and Sophia (Paul) Hiltner; his brother, Andrew (Vasiliki) Faunda; and his sisters-in-law, Mary Faunda and Virginia (Gene) Longo.

According to his wishes, his body will be cremated. Services will be private.

To celebrate Phil’s life, please do a good deed for someone, and remember his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, Warren. You may view this obituary and send condolences at www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.

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