Winnie Ruth Phillips (93) of Newton

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Published on March 29 2018 7:52 am

Winnie Ruth Phillips left to join her sweetheart, George, on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 6:15 p.m. She was surrounded by her family at Newton Care Center, Newton, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Winnie’s life will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at the Crain Funeral Home, Newton, Illinois with Rev. Brad Harper officiating. Burial will be in the West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton.

Winnie was 93 years old, born on June 12, 1924, the daughter of Don C. Boxley and Daisy R. (Staley) Boxley in Newton, Illinois. Her mother passed away when Winnie was seven years old but she realized how important a mother is to a family. When her sweetheart, George H. Phillips went off to fight in World War II, Winnie went up to Gary, Indiana to work on the rocket lines, which were used for the war efforts. She worked there until the war was over and then moved back to Newton to be there when George returned on February 19, 1946. They were married 34 days later on March 24, 1946 in Newton Illinois. She became a farmer’s wife and was happy to work alongside of her husband. Their union lasted 71 years together. From their union of marriage they had three daughters: Karen Nebergall of Casey, Illinois, Marsha Phillips of Carmel, Indiana, and Patti (Marshall) Finley of Edgewood, Illinois. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, cooking, canning, and reading.

Surviving members of her family are her daughters, her only granddaughter, Brenda Hamand; four great grandchildren, CaSandra Nichols, Zachary Nichols (fiancé Candace Yentis), Andrew (Tyler) Hamand and Roland Hamand (fiancé Courtney East); and six great-great grandchildren: Carson and Isaiah Hamand, Ayden and Daniel Conrad, Koda and Abigail Hamand. Also surviving is a sister, Berl Harris of Aurora, Illinois and several wonderful nieces and nephews.

Winnie is preceded in death by her husband, her parents; sisters Opal (Ralph) Portlock, Polly Ann (Loren) Boyd; brothers, Harry (Fern) Boxley, Dale (Thelma) Boxley. John Boxley; son-in-law, Tilford Nebergall.

The family requests donations made to HSHS Hospice South Eastern Illinois, to show appreciation for their excellent care and kindness to their parents.

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