George Philip Souza, better known as Phil by those who knew him, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2018, surrounded by family at Spring Arbor in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Phil was born on July 20, 1926, to Manuel E. and Florence Souza in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Phil was survived by the love of his life, Pauline, also a resident of Spring Arbor; his children, Deborah Semmler (Ed), Pete Souza (Constance), Patricia Moses (Larry), Jeffrey Souza (Monica), Angela Leihy (Gregory) and Gregory Souza (Jill); 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother Richard; and numerous nephews, nieces and more.

Phil moved to the United States at the start of World War II to attend the former Tennessee Military Institute in Sweetwater, Tennessee. After graduation, he proudly served in the Pacific aboard a destroyer that saw action during World War II, and he maintained an interest in the military, especially the Navy.

Upon discharge, Phil attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1951 with a degree in business. He was accepted into the management training program at General Electric and married Pauline Sept. 14, 1957, at St. John the Baptist Church in Brunswick, Maine.

Phil worked for GE and lived in Connecticut and New York with his family before finally settling in Cincinnati. He retired from the company in 1986 as Vice President of Licensing for the Jet Engine Division, and the couple moved to their dream home on Tondreaus Point in Maine where Pauline had spent much of her youth.

Phil volunteered for 20 years as a docent at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine, while Pauline used her skills as a registered nurse as a hospice volunteer. The couple, who were parishioners at St. John’s in Brunswick, enjoyed round dancing, skiing and boating as well as their many relatives, neighbors and friends during a long retirement in Maine. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Phil was known for his dedication to chores, an unbelievably organized work shop that was always open to visitors, free advice and assistance, knowledge of knots, a wry smile, septic-system battles, perfectly stacked wood piles, love for a good gin and tonic at the end of the day and, first and foremost, the importance of family, friends and neighbors. His memory will be cherished by those who knew and loved him.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 2 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Interment will be at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, Virginia.

To honor the memory of Phil, contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Research and Capital Caring Hospice.

Online guestbook at covenantfuneralservice.com.