Phillip Robert Budinger received the checkered flag on January 27, 2011 in Palm Springs and qualified to enter into eternal life. Born Sept. 19, 1927 in Los Angeles, Calif. to longtime SP conductor Robert Budinger and Alma Bradley, Phil descended from many lines of California pioneers. His (GG) grandfather, Elam Brown arrived in 1846 ahead of the Donner party and founded Lafayette, Calif., being one of the original signers of our state constitution. Both (G) grandfathers worked at Sutter's Fort and became involved in the Bear Flag Rebellion. His grandfather and namesake owned Panorama Livery Stable in downtown L.A. in the 1890's, supplying horses for the L.A.P.D., harness racing his horses at Agriculture Park and gambling with Pio Pico. With all that spirit, it had to go somewhere. Phil, Dad, Uncle Phil, Grandpa, or #33 was completely passionate about cars. As a kid he sketched detailed drawings of cars. As a teenager he raced cars in the L.A. river bed and sped across the long desert stretches to where he had lived. Before the war he raced at Ascot. Afterwards he slowed down to raise a family but in the 1980's picked up his helmet again and started racing short track with Saugus being his home track. After winning a race a reporter said he looked like he'd been around for a while and asked him if he'd raced with anyone famous. He replied "yeah, Abe Lincoln and I use to race together." Phil lived to work and worked to live. He was a well respected kitchen designer in the San Fernando Valley. For the past 18 years and up until his death he worked for Home Depot, most recently at the Palm Springs store. He worked in many celebrity homes and profoundly remembered the day he worked for Liberace when President Kennedy was shot. He was a consummate story teller with a signature voice. He will always be remembered by his family and friends as caring, funny, young at heart, street wise, a favorite uncle, a gentleman, an everyday working man who never met a local diner and a sweet waitress he didn't like. Phil is survived by his four children, Teresa (Bruce) Rosati-Royer of Topanga Canyon, Bradley Budinger of Morongo Valley, Mary (Bill) Ranelletti of San Luis Obispo; stepson, Brian Dees of Bakersfield; grandchildren, Carlie, Lauren, Dominic, and Selina; great grandson, Jay; mother of his children, Mary Helen Berry nee Rose; cat Pita (pain-in-the-ass) and many friends and co-workers. He was a proud WWII Air Force Veteran. Arrangements are being handled by Rose Mortuary, Desert Hot Springs. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Sun. Feb. 13, 2011 at Hidden Springs Country Club Community Center, 15500 Bubbling Wells Road, Desert Hot Springs. Private interment will be held later at Pierce Brothers Valhalla, North Hollywood. Donations can be made to Boys and Girls Club of America. Dad, as you said in your final days as only you can say, "Pull the plug; I've had a great ride."

Published in The Desert Sun on February 6, 2011