Anna W. Phillips, 96

Anna W. Phillips, 96, a resident of Harper’s Ferrry, WV died Sunday, January 17, 2010 at Hospice of Lancaster County Mount Joy.

The daughter of the late Henry and Emmie Blomquist Woeltjen, Anna was born May 14, 1913 in Savannah, GA. She was a 1931 graduate of Savannah High School and then completed a business course. After marriage to Beltran S. Phillips of Belington, WV, the couple lived in WV until 1954 when he was transferred to Baltimore, MD. After her husband’s death in 1960 Anna remained in Baltimore until she moved back to WV and eventually settled into life in Harper’s Ferry in 1977. She continued to live alone in her home there until September, 2009, when poor health brought her to Lancaster to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Dan Conklyn. In addition to her daughter and son-in-law Anna is survived by her son, David and his wife Susan of Madison, WI: six grandchildren, thirteen great- grandchildren, a niece and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Emma W. Preble and three brothers: Henry, Albert and Carl Woeltjen.

In Savannah Anna was active in Wesley Monumental Methodist Church, the Rainbow Girls, and was a member of Girl Scout Troop#1 when Juliette Gordon Low was still active. In 1953 she was a finalist in the Pillsbury National Baking Contest bakeoff in New York City where she was pleased to meet and then be mistaken for Pat Nixon. In Harper’s Ferry she was active in the Women’s Club and very much enjoyed the friendships she developed there. Anna also became involved in local politics and was elected to the town council where she was widely quoted for saying that satellite dishes looked like something from “Star Wars” as she voted against their use in the little historic town.

According to an old African proverb” it takes a Village to raise a child.” It also takes a village to keep an elderly person in her home and Anna’s family would like to recognize the “Village of Harper’s Ferry for helping Anna remain in her home for so long through their many kindnesses and assistance. They are also full of gratitude to Hospice of Lancaster County for their kind and gentle care at the end of Anna’s life.

Local arrangements are with the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel and there will be a Memorial Service at the Eackles-Spencer Funeral Home in Charles Town, WV, February 20, 2010. If desired donations may be made in Anna’s memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, Pa 17604. To send online condolences, please visit snyderfuneralhome.com