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Obituary

Dr. Philip Eves, 71, of Burlington, died Thursday, August 3, 2023. His two daughters, Jane and Catherine, were with him.

Born December 27, 1951, near Melbourne, Australia, he was the son of Peter and Ronda Eves.

Philip earned his doctorate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he met fellow student, Mary. They wed on August 13, 1983.

After almost 20 years in Australia, Philip and Mary moved back to Mary’s hometown of Burlington in 1998, where they opened Diggers Rest coffeehouse.

Philip was a man of many talents and hobbies, and his conversation around a cup of coffee will be deeply missed.

In his later years, he rekindled a passion for woodworking, and renovated his basement into a woodshop, where he created one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture for family and friends. He was also a talented writer. He authored the book “Brothers in Arms: Diggers of the Great War” in 2013, after wanting to learn more about his grandfather’s experiences during World War I.

Philip’s family includes his mother, Ronda; daughters, Jane and Catherine; and three sisters, Jo, Mandy, and Cathy.

Philip was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his father, Peter; and his dog, Blue.

Memorial contributions in Philip's memory are suggested to the Burlington Public Library.

The graveside committal service for Dr. Eves will be Friday, August 11, 2023, at 2:30 pm, with Jerry Rigdon officiating. Those wishing to attend the service will meet at the Sunnyside Avenue gate prior to the service for a procession to the gravesite.