Katherine Phillips
Katherine Phillips
Katherine Phillips, 95, of Williamsburg and formerly of Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at the Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg. She was born August 27, 1916, in Mahaska County the daughter of William and Bertha Howar Riable. She graduated from the Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1934. Early on she worked at the Woolworth Dime Store in Oskaloosa. On June 24, 1936, she was united in marriage to Chester W. Phillips in Unionville, Missouri; Chester died August 8, 1963. Following their marriage they moved to Sigourney for a short time. In 1945, they moved back to Oskaloosa and she went to work for Reiley’s Jewelry Store and then Seifert’s clothing store. Lastly she worked for J.C. Penney’s as a bookkeeper, retiring from there in 1978. In retirement she enjoyed traveling with her family, having coffee with her J.C. Penney coworkers and friends, reading, and John Wayne movies. She will be remembered as the devoted and loving matriarch of her family. Katherine was very strong willed and independent, the fact that she earned her pilot’s license before she had her driver’s license, because Chester had interest in a plane, is a perfect example of her independence. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa.
Her family includes her two sons: Robert (& Lynda) Phillips of Des Moines and John (& Sandy) Phillips of West Des Moines; two grandsons: Steven (& Rhonda) Phillips and John Lee Phillips; six great grandchildren: Andrew (& Samantha), Sara (& Dan Harris), Courtney, Joseph, Taylor and Mackenzie.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 6, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with Reverend Andrea Brownlee officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Thursday morning after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5—7 Thursday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Highland Ridge Care Center at Williamsburg.
