Philip Orville Zatlin, husband of Carole Zatlin for 74 years, died on May 5. He was 98. Born in St. Louis in 1926, he was the son of the late Fay (Orenstein) Zatlin and George Zatlin. He grew up in St. Louis and lived there all his life. A devoted family man, Phil leaves his wife, Carole (Edelman); daughters Dayle Zatlin (Joel Blumenthal) of Green Island, N.Y., and Caren Forister Smith (Steve Smith) of The Woodlands, Texas; son Stuart Zatlin (Suzanne Peterson) of St. Louis; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Barbara (Jackson).

Phil, who was called Orville for most of his life, served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a radio operator in a tank destroyer battalion in the Philippines and earned a rank of Sergeant and a medal for sharp shooting. Prior to the Army, he attended Soldan High School, and following his military service, he studied engineering at Washington University on the GI Bill, ensuring that he could fix any mechanical device for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and liked to sing “Fast and Firm” the “Sammy” song, teaching it to his children and grandchildren.

Upon college graduation, Phil went to work at Star Binding, a bias binding manufacturing company started by his grandfather, Solomon Orenstein, in 1914. He worked there and at Star Printing, an affiliated company, with his father and uncle, later running the companies for decades. After turning over company management to his son, Stuart, he continued to work there until the COVID pandemic in 2020, retiring at age 94.

Phil met Carole at a Washington University fraternity party and fell in love. They married in 1949. He adored his wife and family, and loved Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First” well into his 90s.

A graveside funeral will be held at B’nai Amoona Cemetery Tuesday, May 7 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to BJC Hospice. Please check the website at bergermemorialchapel.com for more info. BERGER MEMORIAL