RUBY E. PHILLIPS

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Friday, September 8, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie, with Pastor Jim Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Gowrie Cemetery. A visitation will begin 1 hour prior to the start of the service at the church.

Ruby is survived by her children Leah Roach of Des Moines, Linda Sue (Kent) Wilson of Lohrville, Cindy Dunne of Norwalk, James Russell (Vicki) Phillips of Urbandale, and Mary Kathryn Robison of Paton; grandchildren Kevin (Abby) Wilson, Andrea (Jason) Beyer, Julie (Luke) McKee, Chris (Monica) Dunne, Ken (KT) Dunne, Tyrrell (Amy) Roach, Tanaya Cook, and Ashley Phillips; brother Kenneth McMichael of Barnard, MO, nephew Ronnie McMichael, niece Diana McMichael, and brother-in-law Rev. Dean (Roberta) Phillips.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Esther (Kirchner) McMichael, husband Richard Phillips in 2014, infant sister Karolyn Kaye McMichael, sister-in-law Loree McMichael and her first granddaughter Angela Marie Wilson in 2022.

Ruby E. McMichael was born September 4, 1933, in a farmhouse in Cass County, Iowa. She attended Kindergarten and first grades in Cumberland, Iowa, then went onto country schools in Gentry County, MO, through 8th grade and graduated from Albany High School in Albany, MO. After graduation she worked for Lutheran Mutual Life Insurance in Waverly. She was united in marriage to Richard Phillips in Rockwell, IA, on June 1, 1952, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church after taking Confirmation classes in Waverly. Ruby worked for Excel in Blue Earth, MN, and also received her Certified Dental Assistant license by correspondence through the University of North Carolina. In Gowrie, she was the library assistant at Prairie Valley High School before working as a dental assistant and office manager for Dr. Sonksen, dentist in Fort Dodge. In the summer of 1983, she owned and operated “Ruby’s,” a ladies fashion shop, along with her daughter Kathy. She retired and closed the shop in 1990.

Ruby and Dick enjoyed being campground hosts and worked for several different campgrounds as they traveled across Utah, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and even canoed in Canada. These trips plus three to Alaska were among some of Ruby’s favorites. She loved to crochet, read, and garden. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and assisted for many years with the bulletins and newsletters. She was also involved in Stephen’s Ministry. She was the Bereavement Chairperson, past secretary for the Gowrie Commercial Club and belonged to the Ladies Legion Auxillary.

Memorials may be left to family discretion and/or Zion Lutheran Church, 1003 Church St., Gowrie, IA 50543.