Philip Haines Szenasi

PHILIP HAINES SZENASI (September 8, 1934 - February 29, 2024), was born in Hebbronville, Texas close to Corpus Christi on September 8, 1934, to Joseph Szenasi and Nona Haines Szenasi. 

Joseph was an oil drill site watchman and Philip was born at home on one of the drill sites. Philip stepped on a baby rattlesnake right behind the head and the family took the first opportunity to move to Odessa when Nona’s brother-in-law told them about an abundance of work there in 1939 and offered Joseph a job managing a water well company. Joseph only had an 8th grade education but a fine head for business and started his own insurance company, The Szenasi Insurance Agency which was located on University and Andrews Highway across the street from Odessa College. He also owned a cafe right across the street from the college. Nona was the children’s librarian at the Ector County Library and was eventually made head librarian. Phil graduated from Odessa High School in 1953, married Kay Norsworthy in 1961, and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1962 with a degree in chemistry. He was active in The Wesley Foundation at Texas Tech. His wife, Kay, was an elementary school music teacher from Vernon, Texas who graduated from Baylor. Phil worked for El Paso Products in Odessa, then Arco. He was a member of the National Ski Patrol for over 45 years. He used his lifesaving skills at the ski area near Ruidoso, New Mexico originally named Sierra Blanca, now Ski Apache. He was also the youth minister at First United Methodist Church of Odessa for several years during the 1960s as well as teaching the Boosters Sunday School class and serving on the church board. He was a member of the National Guard. He has two sons, Darrell and David. Philip always had a joke to share, helping others in need, and thought of others before himself. It was easy to imagine a loving Heavenly Father with his example. 

Services are at 5pm on March 1, 2024, at First United Methodist Church.