Barbara Phillips

Barbara Whiting Howe Phillips, age 84, passed away peacefully, on Sunday morning, September 23, 2018. She was born on May 1, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, to Edward Cole Howe Jr. and Carol Whiting Howe (Bourne).

Barbara loved Holy Spirit Episcopal Church serving several decades in various capacities on the Altar Guild. She enjoyed her 34 years of Al-Anon and her ability to influence and mentor resulted in many people who loved her as family. She loved spending time with her sisters, children and grandchildren. Barbara could often be found watching baseball moving her loyalty from the Chicago Cubs to the Houston Astros in the 1970’s when she moved to Houston. She achieved one of her life goals when the Houston Astros won the World Series in 2017.

Barbara attended public schools in Winnetka, Illinois, and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She had a long career in volunteer work including Girl Scouts and Rosewood Hospital before becoming a realtor in the late 1970’s, maintaining her license for the rest of her life.

She is survived her son, Jerry [Jerome T. Weil, Jr.] and her three daughters, Cindy [Cynthia Diane Weil], Sharon [Sharon Louise Austin] and Carol [Carol Margaret Weil Hayword] and their father Jerome T. Weil; four grandchildren, John (John M Lura), Trae (Bennis T Beaty), Chelsea (Chelsea E Lura) and Dawn (Dawn F. Austin); her sisters Susan Howe Hutchins and Florence Howe Munat; as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family, and her dog Shadow and cat Morris. She was predeceased by her daughter Margaret Carol Weil, sister Carol Howe Loomis, husband Gene Phillips, and her parents.

The family wishes to thank the many doctors, therapists, support groups, and caregivers who helped extend and provide a higher quality of life in recent years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Holy Spirit Episcopal Church at https://holyspirithouston.org/# .

Family, friends, and others whose lives Barbara touched are invited to the Funeral Service at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 12535 Perthshire Rd., Houston, TX 77024 at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, followed by a reception at the church parish hall to reminisce and celebrate her life.