Philip Mineer

Mineer, Philip D., 60, of Fort Myers, FL, formerly of Atlantic County, passed away in North Carolina on July 1, 2008. He was born in Philadelphia PA and raised in Cincinnati, OH where he attended Purcell Catholic Preparatory High School. Upon graduation in 1966, he chose to enlist in the United States Marine Corps and fight for his country in Vietnam. He served in the Fifth Marine Division, Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion 13th Marines (Bastard Bravo) and was a survivor of the Siege of Khe Sanh. He was a decorated combat veteran awarded several ribbons and medals some of which were a Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal and The Purple Heart, which was awarded to him for wounds he received in action. After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he moved to Mays Landing, NJ. He was employed with the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office as an officer and later as a Correction Officer Sergeant. He attended Atlantic Community College and Stockton State College and then worked as an investigator for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. He was a firearms instructor for the Prosecutor's Office and was well known in the law enforcement community as an expert pistol shot. He was a member of several Police Marksmanship Teams, winning many awards with his law enforcement brothers. He left the Prosecutor's Office and joined a licensed Private Investigator Firm "Eclectic Associates" and eventually became a self employed license Private Investigator operating "Shoreline Investigations." His clients included several local businesses as well as area Criminal and Civil attorneys. He was a gifted artist and photographer contributing paintings, sculpture, wood carvings, etchings, composite drawings, scale crime scene drawings, commercial art and professional photography to law enforcement agencies, clients, businesses, friends, and family members throughout his entire life. He will also be remembered as a gourmet cook, especially of French, Italian, and American cuisine and as a first class bartender. He could make a great meal or a fine cocktail out of anything on hand. When he left the Atlantic County area he moved to Captiva, FL and later Fort Myers, where he made his home until the time of his death. He was predeceased by his parents Harry D. and Marie A. Mineer and his grandparents Louis and Jenny DeTulleo and Elmer and Elsie Mineer. Phil is survived by his wife Patti and godson Bradley of Fort Myers; three children: Michele Eyerman (Donovan) of Egg Harbor Township, Megan Rowand (Corbin) of Tuckahoe, and Monique Barrish (Michael) of Cedar Run; a sister Jeannine Mineer of Mays Landing; and brothers Anthony Mineer (Diane) of Santa Rosa CA and Joe Mineer (Marianne) of Mays Landing; grandchildren: Ciara Mineer and Jason Eyerman, Garrett Rowand, Julia and Keira Barrish; one niece Sydney Mineer; and one nephew Joey Mineer. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by many women, relatives, friends, and colleagues. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Route 50 & 2nd St. in Mays Landing on Friday, April 3, 2009 at 11 AM where friends may call one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will immediately follow in the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery, Route 50, Estell Manor, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinatti, OH 45250-0301. (Info and condolences: www.boakesfuneralhome.com)