Wanda L. Phillips

Wanda L. Phillips, 91, of Topeka, died September 22, 2018 at Topeka Presbyterian Manor where she has lived since April 2013.

Wanda was born on February 21, 1927 in Picher, Oklahoma, which was a small town in the northeast corner of Oklahoma.  Picher was formerly a major national center of lead and zinc and was a boom town about the year Wanda was born.  Wanda’s parents were Mary Frances (Mohler) and Otha Foster.  The family moved to Topeka when Wanda was a small baby.  Wanda was the youngest of five children born to Mary and Otha.  Wanda’s sister, Maxine Krallman Taylor lives in Topeka and she was predeceased by three siblings, Alfred Foster, Lucille Childrey and Dale Foster.

Wanda grew up in the Silver Lake community where she graduated from Silver Lake High School.

On August 27, 1945, Wanda married Neal Phillips.  Both were nineteen years old.  Neal served in US Army directly out of high school near the end of World War II.  They celebrated 60 years together before Neal passed away in 2005.

She is survived by three daughters, Sharon and husband Jack Hassett of Berryton.  Linda and husband David Joss of Topeka and Connie and husband Dennis Warnock of Texas.  Wanda has been blessed in life with six wonderful grandchildren:  four surviving granddaughters, Tammy Vagts and Tina Gustin of Topeka and Anna Gilmore and Kristy Cockrell of Texas and was preceded in death by two grandsons, Jeff and Stan Hassett.  She is also survived by eleven awesome great-grandchildren and three precious great-great-grandchildren.

Wanda worked for the Kansas Department of Revenue, Traffic Control and Driver’s License Division for thirty years and retired in 1992.

In years past, Wanda and Neal enjoyed traveling to Texas to visit their daughter Connie and family.  Wanda and her husband and sister-in-law’s enjoyed spending time together making quilts.  Her husband loved being part of the quilting process.  First, they began making baby quilts and moved onto making full size quilts.  They often would hang the quilts on the porch of their north Topeka home and quickly sell them to individuals passing by.  She and her husband also enjoyed listening and dancing to country music.

She was a member of Northland Christian Church and formerly attended Countryside Christian.

Wanda will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Wednesday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. where her family will receive friends from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will follow in Prairie Home Cemetery

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Presbyterian Manor or Great Lakes Caring Hospice and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas  66603.

Online condolences or fond memories maybe left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.