Phillip "Phil" Joe Dwigans

Retired Indiana State Trooper Phillip Joe Dwigans, 92, of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home on June 7, 2026, at 9:46 a.m., surrounded by his family.

A lifelong public servant and longtime Kokomo resident, Phil will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the many lives he touched throughout his years of service and community involvement.

He was born on December 31, 1933, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Robert Raymond and Lola Helen (Smith) Dwigans. On August 14, 1954, he married the love of his life, Ethelyn Louise Krieg, who preceded him in death on January 17, 2024. Together they shared 69½ years of marriage, building a life centered on faith, family, service, and enduring love. Phil graduated from Kokomo High School in 1952 and began his career at Delco Electronics in Kokomo. While still in high school, and during the height of the Korean War, he enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard, serving locally with the 150th Field Artillery Battalion, 38th Infantry Division. He attained the rank of Corporal before entering the United States Air Force.

Phil served on active duty in the Air Force from 1956 to 1960, including an 18-month unaccompanied tour at Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli, Libya, North Africa. He began his Air Force career with initial training at Parks Air Force Base in Dublin, California. During his service, Phil and his wife, Ethelyn, were stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base in Greenville, South Carolina; Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas; and Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After leaving active duty in the Air Force, Phil worked alongside his brother at Haynes Stellite before finding his true calling in law enforcement.

In the 1970s, Phil continued his military career in the United States Air Force Reserve, ultimately retiring with the rank of Technical Sergeant. Assigned to Grissom Air Force Base in Peru, Indiana. He participated in numerous annual training exercises at Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall in England, as well as at Air Force bases throughout Germany.

During the 1990–1991 Gulf War, Phil was once again called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, serving at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. His military career spanned five decades and more than 20 years of service, reflecting a lifelong commitment to his country and fellow servicemembers.

Phil's legacy of military service continues through his family. His son, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter have proudly served, or continue to serve, on active duty or in reserve components of the United States Army and United States Air Force, carrying forward the values of duty, honor, and service that defined his life.

On November 16, 1967, he graduated from the Indiana State Police Academy and was appointed as an Indiana State Trooper. Over the next 20-plus years, he faithfully served the citizens of Indiana, patrolling the highways of Jasper and Howard counties. Throughout his distinguished career, Phil maintained an impeccable safety record, logging more than 900,000 accident-free miles.

Phil retired as a Master Trooper on June 17, 1988, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 55. During his career, he regularly provided law enforcement support at the Indianapolis 500, serving trackside for many years. He was also entrusted with security details for Presidents, Governors, and presidential candidates, reflecting the professionalism and dedication that characterized his service.

Phil was an avid bowler in his younger years, achieving multiple 700-series scores. In retirement, he developed a passion for golf and became an accomplished player, even recording a hole-in-one. Following in his father's footsteps, he also became a skilled horseshoe pitcher, competing alongside his brother and nephews in tournaments and local events.

A lifelong learner, Phil enjoyed reading, with a particular interest in World War II history. He also loved crossword puzzles and genealogy research. Through his dedication to indexing and record preservation, he helped transcribe more than 250,000 documents, making it easier for countless individuals to discover and document their family histories.

Phil was a quiet and humble man with a wonderful sense of humor, always ready with a joke to make others smile. He enjoyed traveling and cherished visits with his three children and their families across the United States.

In the later years of his life, Phil joined the local YMCA's Rock Steady Boxing program, where his positive attitude, determination, and friendly nature made him a favorite among fellow participants and instructors. Even then, he continued doing what he did best—building meaningful friendships and enriching the lives of those around him.

Faith was a guiding force throughout Phil’s life. Through his faithful example and devotion, he helped lead his family to Jesus Christ. A dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Phil served as Ward Membership Clerk for more than 30 years, providing quiet and dependable service to his congregation.

Phil and Ethelyn faithfully supported two of their children as they served full-time, two-year church missions. Later, they had the privilege of serving together on an 18-month temple mission at the Chicago Illinois Temple. Their shared commitment to faith, family, and service remained a defining influence throughout their lives.

Phil is survived by his daughter, Marcia (Dennis) Marler of Kokomo; two sons, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Paul Robert (Ann) Dwigans of Columbia, South Carolina, and P. Todd (Major Wendy) Dwigans of North Augusta, South Carolina; his brother, Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Ret.) Richard (Darlene) Dwigans of Kokomo; and his sister, Jan (Bill) Pavey of Kokomo.

He also leaves behind nine beloved grandchildren: Major Dr. Tyler (Millena) Marler, Tara (Jalen) Ellis, Sara (Benjamin) Hansen, Crystal Dwigans, Jonathon Dwigans, Trevor Marler, Emma (Kurtis) Barnum, Abigail Dwigans, and Spencer Dwigans; as well as eight cherished great-grandchildren.

Phil was preceded in death by his wife, Ethelyn Dwigans; his parents, Robert and Lola (Smith) Dwigans; his brother, Alan Dwigans; and his sister, Helen Coston.

Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 West Lincoln Road, Kokomo, Indiana.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 332 West 300 South, Kokomo, with Bishop Benjamin Dilsaver officiating. The service will be livestreamed, and a link will be available through the funeral home's website, (www.shirleyandstout.com).

Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery, Kokomo, with military honors provided by the United States Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites team.

The family invites friends and loved ones to share memories and offer condolences online at www.shirleyandstout.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.