Ada Belle Phillips

Ada was born in Macon County, MO, to Harold and Lenna (Windle) Rice.

In 1939 Ada attended Culver Stockton College for her freshman year. She continued her studies at Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College (Truman State University) during the summers of 1940-1947 while teaching elementary grades in both rural and urban settings during the academic year, then completed her senior year of college, earning her degree in Vocational Home Economics in 1948.

Ada married E. Wayne Phillips in 1948 after they had both graduated from college. They moved to Unionville, MO, where they both taught in the high school for two years. Upon the birth of her first child she no longer taught full-time. In 1952 the family moved to Wichita, KS, where they lived until being transferred to Hutchinson, KS, in 1957. Ada occasionally served as a substitute teacher in the public schools in Wichita and Hutchinson until their transfer back to Wichita in 1963, where they lived until 2013. She was a gifted teacher and was always active in her church’s education of children, teaching Sunday School for many years. She especially enjoyed the 17 years she taught the 2- and 3-year old children. She was also an avid gardener, sharing both fresh and canned produce with friends and neighbors (she had many ways to prepare the abundant zucchini, and her pickles were especially well-known and enjoyed). Ada was an accomplished seamstress, cook, and baker. She was always willing to share her knowledge and gifts with others—continuing to teach.

An unexpected career opportunity arose in 1970 when Ada started working part-time at the Sedgwick County Election Commissioner’s office in Wichita when they needed additional workers to help with voter registration. This developed into a full-time position, from which she retired in 1985 as the Supervisor of voter registration. After retiring, she increased her volunteer activities at her church, coordinating the quilters group that made many quilts and lap robes for those in need. Ada and Wayne also enjoyed travelling, by both car and bus tours, and a 40th Anniversary trip to Hawaii. They visited most, if not all, US states and several provinces of Canada.

Ada was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Phillips (Overland Park, KS), her son Mark and his wife Linda (White) Phillips (Kansas City, MO), grandson Timothy Phillips, and granddaughter Anna (Phillips) Phenny and her wife Victoria.

Memorial services will be scheduled when health and safety protocols for the pandemic allow for meeting together.