Margaret Phillips
Margaret Elizabeth (Robison) Phillips passed peacefully from this life at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, after a brief decline. She was born to Charles Lee Robison and Oleta (Snoderly) Robison near Barrackville, W.Va., on April 2, 1937. She was a descendant of Frederick Ice on her father’s side and of Pierre Dragaud, on her mother’s side, both original colonial settlers in the 1600s.
Margaret was valedictorian of the Barrackville High School Class of 1955. Within three years she had worked her way through Fairmont State College, Fairmont, W.Va., earning degrees in home economics education and English, even with lights out every night at 10 pm.
In 1958 her first job brought her to Carey, where she taught home economics at Carey High School. She met the principal’s nephew, Glen Phillips, at a football game and they were married on June 23, 1962. They celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2022. Together she and Glen raised three children, Jim (Kelly), Oak Harbor; Linda (Douglas) Skinner Northbrook, Ill.; and John C. Phillips, Stratford, Conn. She was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Nancy Phillips. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Samantha (Sheldon) Miller, Jake Phillips and Joe (Brooke) Phillips, all of Oak Harbor; and Lucy Skinner of Northbrook, Ill.; sister, Carolyn (Charles) Shaver, of Milton, W.Va.; brother, Charles William (Joanne) Robison of Marion, Ky.; and faithful life friend, Kathy Ruhlen of Carey. She also had four great-grandchildren, several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandson.
After she retired from full time teaching to raise her family, Margaret created the highest quality baskets, quilts, clothing, embroidery and tatted snowflakes which were always gifted and never sold. She worked hard to pass on her skills to her daughter and granddaughters. Bright Road Church of Christ was her church home. It was a lucky Sunday potluck that received a platter of her fried chicken or an 1800s family recipe German chocolate cake. Margaret was happiest when taking an artisan class, teaching an interested student, maintaining the glorious flower border at the family farm in Seneca County or reading historical fiction. She is already grievously missed.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northwest Ohio Christian Youth Camp, 2905 Starr Avenue, Oregon, OH 43616 or https://nwocyc.org/donate.
Visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 3, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home, Carey. A funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.StombaughBatton.com.
