Phil Hoag was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  He was the only child of Leona Scarlett Hoag and Charles Nelson Hoag.  He spent his childhood years in Kalamazoo and Jackson, Michigan before eventually finding their way to Savannah, Georgia.  There Phil fell in love with the beauty and hospitality of the city and forever had a longing to return one day.  He graduated from Savannah High School, where he had been involved in ROTC, which made attending North Georgia College a logical choice where he could continue concentrating on his military aspirations.  There he met his future wife, Carole Steinmetz of Atlanta, GA.  They graduated together and were married only four months later, with Phil majoring in Physics.  Upon graduating he received a commission in the US Army, going first through Jump School in Fort Bragg to join the 82nd Airborne Division as a 2nd Lieutenant.  While in the Army, their most memorable stop was in Okinawa, Japan from 1960-62 where Phil was a member of the 503rd Infantry Mortar Battery and often drilled in places like Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. He successfully completed 42 parachute jumps over his career in Airborne and attained the rank of Captain and had a love for the skies ever since.

After completing his military service, Phil accepted a job at NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where he was an Engineer in the Projects Office of the Aero-Astrodynamics Lab supporting the Saturn V launch vehicle for the Apollo Space Program where he had professional exposure to Dr. Wernher von Braun.  Spanning his 30+ years at NASA, he held many roles including AST-Flight Systems for Skylab before moving on to the new Space Shuttle program, where he was involved in early concepts, design, development and flight evaluations in several roles, among them as Team Leader and Branch Chief, until his retirement in 1992.  During these years the family lived in Sherwood Park in NW Huntsville where they all made lifelong friendships that still hold true today.

After retirement, they built a new home in the community of Gorham's Bluff in Pisgah, Alabama and spent over 20 years there enjoying breathtaking views, and wonderful friends.  In 2017, due to health issues, they left The Bluff for Dallas, Georgia to be closer to family and ultimately enjoyed three years with new friends.  Phil was an avid genealogist and enjoyed much of his time doing research.

Survivors who are left behind to cherish many memories include his wife, Carole Steinmetz Hoag of Acworth, GA, daughter Dianne Hoag Piecuch (Gregory) of Acworth, GA, son David Hoag of Acworth, GA, grandson Dennis Piecuch (Aiken, SC), granddaughter Sydney Piecuch (Statesboro, GA), and a host of family and friends.

Collins Funeral Home 4947 North Main St. Acworth, GA 30101 770-974-3133, are in charge of the arrangements.