Philip L. Gravengaard, Jr.

Philip Louis Gravengaard, Jr. of Catawba Island, OH passed away peacefully on Monday, July 26, 2021. Philip was born on February 15, 1945 in Detroit, MI to Dorothy Palmer and Philip L. Gravengaard. A four-sport athlete at Thomas A. DeVilbiss High School, Toledo, OH, Philip was a member of the Division 1 All-City football and baseball teams. He was inducted into the DeVilbiss Sports Hall of Fame and was a member of the National Honor Society graduating at the top of his class. After graduating from DeVilbiss High School, he attended The Ohio State University and as a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, he met the most beautiful Kappa Kappa Gamma and the love of his life, Barbara Lamson Swartzbaugh. Philip married Barbara on August 2, 1969. Influenced by his grandfather, Delos M. Palmer (the Founder and first Dean of the University of Toledo College of Engineering), Philip graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Ceramic Engineering and was elected the President of the Engineering Honorary. He was President of Texnikoi Engineering Honorary and was a member and officer of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. After receiving his MBA from the University of Toledo, he was appointed to the Senior Management Development Program at Owens-Illinois, Inc. in Toledo, OH. In addition to Owens-Illinois, he was also a member of the senior management teams of two other Fortune 500 companies, Libbey-Owens-Ford Company (LOF) in Toledo, OH and GenCorp Inc. in Fairlawn, OH. After 5 years at LOF, he was named President of Precision Air Corporation in Ann Arbor, MI. In 2000, he started Gravengaard International, LLC. Philip enjoyed international travel with his family. As an International Business Executive, his wife, Barbara, and children, Amy and Philip, joined him on many business trips throughout Europe, Asia, Latin and South America. Philip was a member of The Toledo Country Club (TCC), and served as a Trustee of The Toledo Club, The Portage Country Club in Akron, OH and The Catawba Island Club (CIC) on Catawba Island, OH. An avid golfer, at TCC he won the Father-Daughter Championship with Amy and at CIC, won the Senior Club Championship and the Couples Championship with his wife Barbara. A lifetime man of unwavering faith, he was active on the Vestry of St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church in Ottawa Hills, OH, Christ Episcopal Church in Hudson, OH and Grace Episcopal Church in Sandusky, OH. Philip served as Senior Warden at St. Michael’s and Junior Warden at Grace Church. He was interested in cars from an early age growing up with a father in the car business. With encouragement from his brother-in-law, George D. Lehmann, III, he became an avid Mercedes-Benz owner and member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America. Philip was an active volunteer for The American Red Cross. He also was the former President of the Toledo Area International Trade Association, Director of the Toledo Public Schools International Business Program, Director of the Toledo International Trade Assistance Center, Board Chairman of the NW Ohio Center for Economic Education and Board Member of Smart Science Education. He is survived by his spouse, Barbara Gravengaard and his son, Philip L. Gravengaard III and his daughter, Amy Keller, and son-in-law, Edward Keller; his brother, Barry Gravengaard; sisters-in-law, Nancy Lehmann, Beth Swartzbaugh, Kitty Ragan; nephews and niece, George D. Lehmann IV (Kelly), Robert Ragan, Shaun Osborne (Shawn) and Kelsey Gravengaard. He was predeceased by his parents, Dorothy Gravengaard (Ottawa Hills High School ’42), Philip L. Gravengaard (DeVilbiss High School ’41) and his brother, William Gravengaard. The Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, August 4th at 11:30 am at Grace Episcopal Church, 315 Wayne Street, Sandusky, OH 44870. Memorial donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, Sandusky, OH or the American Red Cross of Ottawa County, OH.