Philip Anthony “Fuzzy” “Phil” Canton
Philip Anthony ‘Fuzzy’ Canton, 83, residing in Austin, Texas formerly of Elizabethtown, Kentucky passed away on Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 with his wife and daughter by his side.
Fuzzy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Francis Canton and Ann (Schafer) Canton, both deceased, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and attended Uniontown High School and Saint Vincent Prep School before being awarded a football scholarship to play first string for the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
Phil played on the Mountaineer team four years, sometimes playing both offense and defense. One of his favorite memories was playing on the 1953-1954 WVU football team under Coach Arthur Everett ‘Pappy’ Lewis.
During his senior year, his team won the Southern Conference Championship for the first time and went on to later fight Georgia Tech in the 1954 Sugar Bowl.
After graduation from West Virginia University, he then attended the DT Watson School of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.
Upon graduation from PT school, he was called to active duty as a Lieutenant in the Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia. After infantry school, he was selected to join the Army Medical Specialist Corps to practice Physical Therapy.
Phil was a trailblazer and a dedicated Officer throughout his 20 year Military career. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and retired from the Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as the Director of Physical Therapy at the Ireland Army Hospital at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
He then established the first Physical Therapy clinic at the Hardin Memorial Hospital where he was well respected by the doctors, employees of the hospital, and his very devoted staff.
Phil leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Frances (Clark) Canton; his beloved daughter, Mary Clair Tuttle and her husband David Tuttle; and two grandchildren: Robert David Tuttle of Dallas, Texas, Mary Elizabeth Tuttle of New York City.
Phil is survived by his cherished sister, Rosemary DiMarco and brother-in-law, Angelo DiMarco, and niece, Gina DiMarco of White Oak, Pennsylvania.
Burial with Full Military Honors will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.
Donations in his memory can be made to Hosparus of Central Kentucky, Post Office Box 35425, Louisville, KY 40232-9892.
To view the digital Guest Book or the Tribute Page, visit www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com