Phillip L. Stortz, 84, of Howard and lifelong Butler resident passed away Tuesday morning, November 3, 2026 following an extended illness.
The son of Leo and Bertha (Reinhardt) Stortz, Phil was born May 7, 1942. Phil graduated from Butler High School in 1961 where he was a member of the 1960 hall of fame Butler Bulldogs football team and earned All Ohio honors in 1961 as a football player.
Phil kept busy working for Therm-O-Disc in Mansfield. He wore many hats employed in the Clear Fork School System. He was a Police Officer for the Village of Butler for over 35 years, serving as Chief of Police for numerous years.
Throughout his lifetime Phil was involved in many organizations including the Butler Lions Club, Butler Clear Fork Adult Center, and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #32.
In his younger years Phil enjoyed hunting and trapping. He also loved his little farm outside of Butler, raising cows, pigs, and chickens.
He remained active in high school sports, officiating football and wrestling across the state of Ohio.
Phil and Joy loved to travel, taking many cruises to Alaska, Hawaii and the Panama Canal. Vacations to Rice Lake in Canada to fish was a yearly highlight. A second home was purchased in Arizona, and many trips were made enjoying “the dry heat”. Phil was ornery and didn’t know a stranger, he loved to talk to everyone. His approachable outgoing personality made for the perfect Santa which he enjoyed each December.
Phil enjoyed playing euchre with friends and family. He was an avid sports fan, watching the Ohio State Football and Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians. However above all, he was a passionate supporter of the Clear Fork Colts. Phil was officially inducted into the Clear Fork Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 for his accomplishments as a Butler Bulldog football player.
Phil attended Mount Vernon Baptist Temple. The Stortz family encourages everyone to celebrate Phil by wearing their favorite sports team apparel to his services.
Phil is survived by his wife Joy Stortz who he married January 1, 1991; sons Thomas (Renee) Stortz and Timothy Stortz; stepson Joshua (Sheena) Kaber and step daughter Darcy Garcia; grandchildren Seth (Elyse) Garcia and Adeli and Amare Garcia; great grandchildren Nova and Sage Garcia; sister-in-law Jenny (Mark) Fillhart; brother-in-law Jimmy (Tammy) Canfield; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and his cat “Sanity”.
He was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Bertha Stortz and father-in-law and mother-in-law James and Nancy Canfield.
His visitation will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 10 am – 12 noon in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home where FOP Rites conducted by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #32 will be held. Funeral services celebrating the life of Phillip Stortz will begin at 12 noon with pastor Josh Lehman officiating. Burial will follow in Zion Four Corners Cemetery in Butler.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Clear Fork Wrestling Foundation or FOP Lodge #32 Cops & Kids Program.
The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and everyone who gave Phil compassionate care during the last two years of his life.
Phil’s tribute video may be viewed by visiting:www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes Bellville Butler Chapel
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com