Joyce Leet Phillips
Joyce Leet Phillips of Glen Mills entered into eternal rest peacefully while at Mary Washington Hospital on March 25, 2019 at the age of 93.
Born on March 16, 1926 in Chester, Pa., Joyce was the daughter of the late Eva Cruthers and Thomas E. Leet. She was raised in Chester, while her father served on the staff at Pennsylvania Military College.
During World War II, her father was named the Commanding Officer of the Pre-Flight School at Penn State, which caused Joyce to transfer to State College High School for her senior year. She also graduated from Penn State College and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority Chapter.
Joyce married her high school sweetheart, William Rowles Phillips, in 1948, and they had just celebrated their 75 year anniversary. The couple moved to Swarthmore in 1952, raised two children, and lived there for 35 years. Joyce was a member of the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church and serving as a deacon, choir mother, Women’s Association member, and ringer for the Hand Bell Choir. She also served as a Girl Scout leader for Brownies and Cadets.
Joyce was active in Chester community organizations. Before the American Red Cross became an agency under the Community Chest (now the United Way), she was in charge of the Red Cross Fund Drive in Chester and vicinity for several years. Joyce was president of the Junior Board of Chester Hospital, and was the last living president of that Crozier Hospital group. She was also a member of the New Century Club of Chester for over 40 years.
Joyce served on the Board of Directors of Chester Day Nursery and was executive director for 12 years until it merged with Concord Day Care. Retiring from Concord in 1987, she moved to Vero Beach, Florida.
While in Florida, she remained active with the American Association of United Women (AAUW), the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the DAR Regents Council of the Treasure Coast. As a member of the PEO Sisterhood and Indian River Genealogical Society, she actively pursued genealogy research at the Mormon Library in Salt Lake City. Joyce was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Alumni, and a founding member of the Indian River Symphonic Association Nobelles (a ladies group of Shriners).
Joyce loved Ocean City, N.J., and spent over 50 years at vacation homes there. She and Bill moved to Maris Grove in October 2006, two weeks after it opened its doors. She became a member of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Del.
Joyce is survived by her husband, William R. Phillips; a daughter, Carolyn P. Erbaugh of Fredericksburg, Va.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Her son, Richard L. Phillips, of Cedar Crest, N.J. predeceased her in 2015. A private family service and burial will be at Chester Rural Cemetery.
Contributions
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: DAR, P.O. Box 98286, Washington, D.C. 20090-8286, or a charity of one’s choice.
