WICHITA — Charles Phillip Aldrich, 79, passed away Oct. 16, 2020 at Wesley Medical Center.
He was born in Garfield, Kansas on April 17, 1941 to Charles Edgar and LaVergne (Appel) Aldrich.
Phil graduated from Garfield High School in 1959, Fort Hays State University in 1964 and then
Washburn Law School in 1967. He started his career as an attorney in Salina, KS with Blackwell and Knudson and then later moved to Larned, KS and opened Aldrich Law Office in 1972. He was elected as Judge of the District Court of the Kansas 24th Judicial District in 1975 where he proudly served Pawnee, Rush, Hodgman, Edwards, Ness and Lane counties for 17 years. Upon leaving the bench, he reopened Aldrich Law Office and retired in 2002.
Since his retirement he has enjoyed coin collecting, politics and telling lawyer jokes, often to those in a quiet doctor’s office waiting room. He loved to create, build and share his memories through his many eccentric carpentry creations. He was a man of many ideas and loved to challenge others to think beyond the norm, often beyond their comfort zone. He took great pride in his family and their accomplishments. His unique, quixotic humor and unconventional wisdom will be missed. He lived with much purpose and resolve and cared deeply for his family.
He married Thyla Abrahamson in 1961. And from this union came three children (Greg, Doug and Beth). They later divorced.
He married Marilyn (Marty) Fitch in 2008 in Lincoln, NE which added a step-son, Ross Fitch to his family.
Survivors include: His wife Marty of the home, one sister, DeAnne Schumacher of Santa Rosa
Beach, FL, one brother, Stanley Aldrich of Garfield, KS; two sons, Greg (Susan) of Manhattan,
KS and Doug (Jennifer) of Garfield, KS; daughter, Beth Rein of Great Bend, KS; step-son Ross
Fitch of Wichita, KS; 9 grandchildren Zachary and Jessica Aldrich; Blaine (Kelsey) Aldrich,
Casie (Derek) Snodgrass and Allyson Aldrich; Paxton and Raef Rein; Peter and Madeleine
Fitch and 3 great grandchildren, Tennyson Aldrich and Kynzlee and Kason Snodgrass.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A private family service will be viewable via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary at 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 with Pastor Tim Singleton of First Southern Baptist Church of Great Bend presiding. A public graveside service will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Garfield Cemetery, Garfield, Kansas.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at Beckwith Mortuary with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Pilot Club for Autism and Alzheimer’s Awareness in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.
