Phillip Michael Gearon, 78, of Hollywood, Fla., a pipe fitter formerly from Chicago, died Monday, Jan. 22,in Ft. Lauderdale after a long illness. Mr. Gearon was born in Chicago and lived on the Northwest Side until the early 1970s, when he moved his family to south Florida. While in Chicago, Mr. Gearon worked as a pipe fitter, taking part in several Chicago area high-rise projects including the John Hancock Center, said his daughter, Cathy Abrahamsen. Mr. Gearon and the construction company he worked for also were involved in building airfields for the Israeli government during the 1970s. “He loved working on complicated stuff, and working with the architects,” Abrahamsen said. During World War II, Mr. Gearon was in the Marines and fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Battle of Saipan. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Mr. Gearon also was an ardent miniature railroad hobbyist, Abrahamsen said. “He was just crazy about them.” Mr. Gearon is also survived by two granddaughters. A graveside service with full military honors was held Friday in Bushnell, Fla.
