Phillip Ashton Rader

Sandy resident, Phillip Rader, died in a Vancouver hospital on Sunday, October 29, 2023.  He was 78 years old.

Private services were held.

Phillip Ashton Rader was born June 15, 1945 in Pasadena, California to Tom and Elta (Teachworth) Rader.  His family moved several times before settling in the Seattle area. Phillip graduated from Campian Boarding School in Loveland, Colorado.  He received his BA with a minor in Education and Major in Voice from Westminster Choral College in New Jersey.  While in College, he was drafted into the US Army where he served a year in Vietnam then went back to college in New Jersey and sang across New York working with big named conductors. After his graduation in 1972, he taught elementary school in New Jersey for a year before moving to Portland in 1973.  He started court reporting school and worked with the Multnomah County Court system.  He married Nancy on December 29, 1973. They had two children and moved to Sequim, Washington where he continued his career.  Nancy and Phillip later divorced and he moved to Seattle where he sang with the Seattle Opera and Seattle Mens Chorus.  On January 18, 1997, Phillip met Paul Hitt.  They were married August 8, 2020.

Survivors include his husband, Paul Hitt; Son, Aaron; daughter, Bethany (Bryan) Diggins.