Philip John Armentrout was a committed firefighter with a true hero's heart. Brother Philip joined the Fire Service in 1980 as a firefighter with the Chino Valley Fire Department. He was promoted to Captain five years later, the youngest Captain in the history of the Department, and eventually advanced to the rank of Deputy Chief. He also completed a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. In 2001, Chief Armentrout proudly joined the Murrieta Fire Department as its fifth Fire Chief. His wife will remember him as a man of God, leading his church in Praise and Worship music with his God given gifts of playing the guitar and a wonderful voice. Philip loved to watch his son play football, hunt big game, fish, sing and spend time in Lake Arrowhead with his family. Brother Armentrout succumbed to cancer in December of 2005. His wife of 27 years, Deborah, and their three children - Kathryn 25, Erika 22 and Nick 19, survive him