Philip Gordon Pepper, 85, of Torrington, passed away on September 2nd. Born in Torrington, Philip enjoyed his time on the farm in Milton and attended New Milford High School. After one year at UCONN’s Vo-Ag program, he joined the Navy on the USS Cadmus where he served our country for nearly 4 years. Once back home, he worked as a dairy farmer in his younger years and later began working as a construction excavator. He worked alongside his son, Gordon Pepper, at P&G Pepper Construction in Torrington.

Although “The Duke” was known as the hard worker that he was, he was also an avid gardener and was known to surprise people around town with the amaryllis that he so lovingly grew.

Philip is predeceased by his son, Gordon Pepper of Torrington, his daughter, Janice Pepper of Harwinton and his step-daughter Suzan (Derwitsch) Wallace who passed away a day after him.

He is survived by his life partner Nancy Derwitsch of Torrington; his sister Helen Loomis of Goshen; his youngest son, Gregory Pepper (Stephanie) of Apopka, FL; his daughter-in-law Kathleen Garrity-Pepper of Torrington; his granddaughter, Alyssa Pequignot of Boston, MA; his grandson, Aiden Pepper of Apopka, FL; his step-children James Derwitsch (Claudia), Edward Derwitsch (Fran), Robert Derwitsch (JoAnne), and Dolores Derwitsch. He is also survived by many loving cousins, nieces and nephews from the Loomis, Pepper, Zawadski, and Derwitsch families.

Calling hours will be held at the Thurston-Rowe Funeral Home on September 8th from 4-7pm. A graveside service will be at the Milton Cemetery on Blue Swamp Road in Milton at 10am on Wednesday, September 9th. We ask everybody attending to please wear a facial covering and follow social distancing guidelines.