Roll Call Tribute

Philip Getz 

June 19, 1924 - December 25, 2023 

Philip Getz died peacefully on Monday, December 25, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas where he had lived for the last six years. Before that he was a lifelong resident of Houston.

Philip was born on June 19, 1924 to Ida Popkin Getz and Louis Benjamin Getz. He graduated from San Jacinto High School then spent a short time at Texas A&M University before enlisting in the army and serving our country in Europe during WWII. After the war, he graduated with honors from what was then Rice Institute.

He married Shirley Laufman Getz in 1949. Together they welcomed Janet, Lou, and Norman. Shirley and Philip were married almost 25 years until her death from cancer in 1974. He then had over forty years of great happiness with his second wife, Jeanette Bernstein Getz. They traveled all over the country together visiting children and grandchildren.

Philip worked at Star Furniture Company. His father Louis started the first store with business partners and, after Louis’ death in 1936, Ida joined the company. Philip was proud of his association with Star Furniture and cherished his colleagues.

Philip was a founding member of Congregation Emanu El, an avid tennis player, a bread baker and a computer guru. As a young child, he would yell “me pix it!” when anything broke. So naturally as an adult he became a dedicated volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and he was proud of both his rolling tool box and of meeting President Jimmy Carter. But his greatest achievement was his ability to be open hearted and open minded. Jeanette’s three daughters became his daughters. He delighted in both his grandchildren and Jeanette’s and was very proud to have eleven great grandchildren. He also adored his nieces and nephews and his many friends.

Philip was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Murray and Jerry Getz, by his wife Shirley Laufman Getz and his wife Jeanette Bernstein Getz and by his sons Lou and Norman Getz.

He is survived by his daughter Janet Solomon and her husband Al, by his daughters-in-law Trecia Getz and Donna Getz, by his stepdaughters Sharon Znilek and her husband Michael, and Janice Smith and her husband Bruce. He was the much loved Poppa of Oliver and Beth Jones, Ben Solomon, Peter and Susan Getz, Jennifer and Jamie Abbott, Victoria and Grant Patterson, Claudia Getz and Jorin Lee, Nathan and Kara Getz, Rachel and Patrick Lazear, Kevin and Angelina Znilek, Steven Znilek, Alison Getz and Peter Prunty, Anna Smith, Max and Emily Smith. He was the great-grandfather of Annie, Sara, Mary Margaret, Emmy, Caroline, Charlie, Robin, Sky, Ezra, Miles and Nolan.

Services will be held on Friday morning, December 29th at eleven o’clock at the Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet Street, Houston Texas 77074, Rabbi Roy Walter, officiating. 

IN THE CARE OF
Levy Funeral Directors