Cline - Phillip A.
PHILLIP A. CLINE
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review, October 30, 1974
Phillip A. Cline, 21, son of Journal-Review Civic Affairs Editor Pat Cline, died Saturday while scuba diving near Honolulu, Hawaii. The former U. S. Marine is believed to have drowned after his diver’s tank ran out of oxygen. However, authorities have not ruled out the possibility that he suffered a fatal heart seizure or choked to death from swallowing a partial denture. An autopsy report is pending. Diving companions said Cline was about 70 feet below the surface when he signaled to others that he was experiencing some difficulty. All members of the group surfaced at once but Cline was thrashing about in the water in such a manner that he slipped from the grasp of companions who had gone to his aid. Efforts to reach the stricken diver failed and a helicopter was summoned from a nearby Marine base to join the search. With the aid of a net the body was recovered a short time later and was flown to a hospital in Honolulu. Cline was described as an experienced diver. He had served in a security division of the U. S. Marine Corps for three years and served in Vietnam. He was a 1969 graduate of Tipton High School and was a member of East Union Christian Church. He was an Eagle Scout, recipient of the God and Country Award and was a member of Order of the Arrow for Honorary Scouters. Phillip Andrew Cline was born Oct. 27, 1952, at Tipton, a son of Ralph and Rose A. “Pat” Guilkey Cline. Survivors include the mother, Pat Cline of 800 Danville Ave.; father and stepmother, Ralph and Mary Cline of Tipton; two brothers, Michael of Manitou Springs, Colo., and James of Tipton; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Cline of Tipton; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Guilkey of Tipton; and several aunts, uncles and nieces. Funeral services are pending at Leatherman & Morris Funeral Home at Tipton. – jlr