Philip Stuart Kendrick, Jr.

On Friday, July 9, 2021 Philip Stuart Kendrick, Jr. passed away peacefully at his Abilene home at the age of 94. Phil was born Dec 4, 1926 on the family ranch just outside of Albany, TX. The family eventually moved to Abilene, TX where Phil attended Abilene High School and was the local KRBC radio announcer later graduating high school in 1943. Phil went on to attend Abilene Christian University for one year before enlisting in the Merchant Marines as a Communications Officer. He later served in the Air Force in the Korean War. Upon returning from his service, Phil attended The University of Texas pledging to the fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha and graduating with a Business Degree in 1950. After graduating, Phil went to work alongside his father, P.S. Kendrick, Sr., at the family company Kendrick Oil and Gas and soon began putting his own oil deals together. In 1959 Phil married Carolyn Thomas Kendrick and they went on to have 5 children. Phil remained an oil man until the oil business declined and he became a Wall Street stockbroker in New York transferring the family to Los Angeles, CA in 1968. Then in 1973 with gas prices on the rise, Phil returned to his original passion starting a new company called Harken Oil and Gas. Phil moved the family back to Abilene in 1974 and Harken soon became a publicly traded company with 125 employees and was one of Abilene's larger employers. In 1984 Phil sold his shares of Harken and went back to Kendrick Oil and Gas which is still in operation today and celebrating its 103rd year anniversary. In 1989 Phil married Helen "Kay" Pelz, they were married 32 years. Phil was a member of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Abilene Geological Society, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, and National Stripper Well Association. Phil was a devoted Christian and a long-time member of Highland Church of Christ. Early in life, he served as the announcer for The Herald of Truth, a platform developed by his father to broadcast sermons across the nation. He was an avid skier as part of the Dallas Ski Club and enjoyed his visit to Aspen every year. Throughout Phil's life he had a passion for theater and singing, eventually becoming part of a barber shop quartet and was in multiple play productions in high school and college, including several lead roles. Phil enjoyed traveling all over the world with his wife Kay. He was an avid bird hunter, golfer, and tennis player. He was often spending quality time by coaching one of his kids in sports. Not only did he love playing and coaching sports but enjoyed attending any sporting event to support his kids or local high schools and Universities. Phil is survived by wife Helen "Kay" Kendrick of Abilene, TX, daughter Lindy and Jimmy Moore of Portland, TX, son Trey and Elaine Kendrick of Frisco, TX, son Brad and Sheryl Kendrick of Abilene, TX, daughter-in-law Kristen Walton Kendrick (Scott) of Lubbock, TX, son Michael and Lacy Kendrick of Abilene, TX, 11 Grandchildren, 7 Great Grandchildren, and three Step-Children, Laura Kay McLoughlin, Katherine Pelz, and Eddie Pelz. Phil is preceded in death by son Scott Kendrick and sister Wilma Kendrick Lucas. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Phil's honor to Global Samaritan Resources in Abilene, TX. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 6-8pm. Memorial service to honor Phil's life will be Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 2pm. Both will be held at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6649 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX.