Betty L. Phillips passed peacefully on Jan. 20, 2017, to be with her Lord and Savior. She was 94.
Betty was born on Sept. 12, 1922, in Geneva, to Leo and Helen Mote, who traveled to the hospital from Austinburg by horse and buggy. She graduated as class valedictorian from Austinburg High School in 1940.
In the spring of 1942, while working at the Austinburg Roller Rink, she met her future husband, Robert Phillips. They were married on Dec. 4, 1943, while Robert was on leave from the Army. They were able to stay together until the fall of 1944, when Robert was shipped overseas to Europe.
While Robert was in Germany, their first son was born. After Robert’s return in 1946, they went on to have a daughter and two more sons.
Betty was very active in the First Baptist Church of Jefferson and later the Baptist Church of Zephyrhills, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (2009); and sons David (1988) and Kenny (1995).
She is survived by son Robert (Diann), of Chardon; daughter, Mary Gogul, of The Villages, Fla.; grandchildren, Julie Stitzel (Jeff), of Hudson, Sandy Rocco (Jeff), of Ashtabula, Robin Halperin (Sydney), of Solon, Cory Phillips (Deanna), of Harrisburg, Pa., Chris Gogul (Amy), of Mason, Ohio, and Tia Lawrence (Chris), of Painesville; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Betty will be laid to rest beside her husband of 65 years in Dade City, Fla.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.