Phillip Albert Lavallet, III of Mountain Brook passed away on August 24 and is now home with his Heavenly Father. He was proceeded in death by his wife of 49 years, Barbara Melson Lavallet, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Albert Lavallet, Jr. (Nelda Eubank). He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Virginia Head Gross Lavallet; a brother, Henry Lavallet (Judy); and a sister, Virginia Lavallet Underwood. He is also survived by two daughters, Margaret Lavallet Benton and Kathryn Lavallet Tortorici (Sam); two step children, Catherine Gross and John Gross, III (Melanie). He had 5 grandchildren and 3 step grandchildren: Michael Tortorici, Steven Benton, Daniel Tortorici, Katy Benton, Gracie Tortorici, John Gross, IV, Ansley Gross, and Evans Gross.
Phil was a Birmingham native and graduated from Ramsay High School in 1955. He was a stand-out player and captain of his Ramsey High School football team. He won the Fred Sington trophy for outstanding athlete/scholar in High School in 1955. He attended Auburn University where he received a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Literature and a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-med honorary. While at Auburn, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and served as President in 1958-1959. Following college, he was a member of the Alabama Air National Guard and the US Air Force where he was stationed in Dreux, France (1960-1961). He continued with the Alabama Air National Guard until 1965 with a Second Lieutenant Rank and was promoted to First Lieutenant in Inactive U.S. Air Force Reserve.