Phillip Eugene Alder was born on February 23, 1961, at Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Pennsylvania. He was the beloved son of the late Ernest Alder, Jr. and Lillian Mazarene Thomas Alder. On Friday, February 6, 2026, he was called home unexpectedly, leaving behind a legacy of love, family, and unforgettable memories.

Phil graduated from Coatesville Area Senior High School in 1979. He ran track and earned numerous awards/ribbons from Ches-Mont Championship Meets, Junior Olympics, Coatesville Track Championship Meets (Gordon, North, & South), and Ardmore Junior High School Relays in 1975 and 1976 for the 100 Yard Dash, 220 Yard Dash, 440 Yard Relay, 880 Yard Relay, and Sprint Medley Relay. He also played football and baseball in school. At an early age, Phil would work on Johnson's Farm with his father baling hay, where he came to love making and saving money. From childhood to adulthood, Phil saved his money and used it sparingly because he always wanted his pockets full of "green". He always had a container full of change. He loved to work and prior to his health decline, he was employed at KFC, Giant, St. Martha's Manor, and Scott Honda of West Chester.

Sports was his favorite pastime. Phil was a great baseball player and played on the adult baseball team "The Players". He was an outdoors person. Phil was a die-hard Eagles and Phillies fan and looked forward to each new season with enthusiasm and loyalty. He loved to watch track and field events, ride bikes, and play pool. Phil's favorite color was green, but he loved earth-tone colors. Cooking was Phil's love language. His specialty was his famous deviled eggs, scallops, and shrimp. He loved to eat seafood, hoagies, and coleslaw. He could always be found manning the grill with a smile on his face followed by cracking jokes. Phil had a great sense of humor and those closest to him knew he was always saying something "slick". He missed his calling as he should have been a comedian.

Phil was a "down-to-earth, simple kind of man". In his prime years, Phil loved to get dressed and had a great sense of fashion. He thought he was Prince with his Afro and style. Phil was meticulous about everything and only liked nice things. He was stubborn and wanted to do what he wanted to do. Phil was very close to his siblings, whom he cherished very much. His relationship with his sister Trish was unbreakable as they were "thick as thieves". He cherished time spent with family and enjoyed family gatherings. He loved to play Scrabble with his mother, sisters Kathy and Trish. They would play Scrabble for hours.

Phil was a believer and he prayed. He had a big heart and always asked how everyone was doing.  He loved his girls, Rachel, Sierra, and Londyn. "My Girl" by the Temptations is a perfect depiction of the love he had for them. He loved his only son, whom he called his "bodyguard". He adored his granddaughter, Londyn and she was everything to him. He loved talking to her about saving money, having a 5-year plan, and doing her best in school. Phil fought hard to live as he wanted to see his granddaughter graduate.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Sharon Williams, Betty Ann Alder, Patrice "Trish" Alder; brother, Ernest "Buster" Alder, III; nephew, George Washington.

The precious memories he shared with his family will forever remain cherished by his daughters, Rachel & Sierra Lewis, both of Coatesville; son, Rudolph Lewis (Andrea R.) of Coatesville; sister, Kathleen Savage of Downingtown; and one beloved granddaughter, Londyn Gutierrez-Lewis of Coatesville.

Phil also considered his children's younger sister, Andrea M. Lewis, like his own. He had a very special relationship with his nieces, Michelle Robinson, Barbara Washington, and Loretta Washington-Hill, whom he loved dearly. He had a remarkable co-parenting relationship and friendship with the mother of his children to the very end, Jacqueline "Princess" Lewis. He will be missed deeply by his companion, Chantay Lockman, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Phil's presence, laughter, and love will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on through the many lives he touched.

No services are planned per his wishes.

Family and friends may share condolences at the guestbook link on this memorial page where you may light a candle in his memory.