Martha Phillips

Martha Jean Wallace Phillips, 76, born September 2, 1933 went to be with her Lord Sunday, July 18, 2010. Her parents were Alvin James Wallace and Marie Riddle Wallace of Mount Pleasant, TX. She was a long time resident of Dallas, TX. She grew up and matured on Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in June 1951. In July 1952 she married 2nd Lieutenant James Wiley Phillips and entered a new career as a military wife. She served with her husband in various assignments in Fort Benning, GA, Fort Ord, CA, Schofield Barracks, HI, Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA the Army Language School in the Presidio of Monterey, CA and the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, while her husband was a student and instructor at the college. While her husband was the Infantry Advisor to the Army of El Salvador in Central America she was an unofficial ambassador for the United States by working with the people of El Salvador. In 1971 she returned to Dallas with her two daughters while her husband was serving his second tour in Vietnam. Upon her husbands retirement from the Army in September 1972 she became a civilian wife once again. She was very active in her church and various community projects. She was an active member of Kiestwood/Windsor Park Baptist Church in Desoto, TX for 27 years. In 1994 she and her husband moved from Oakcliff to north Dallas where she has resided for the last sixteen years. During her time of employment she became a Vice President of Homeowners Funding Corporation until such time as the company moved to Michigan and she retired. In 1995 she and her husband joined Park Cities Baptist Church and became active members of Floyd Faithful Sunday School class. She is preceded in death by her mother, father and three brothers, Malcolm Wallace, Jerry Wallace and Bruce Wallace. She is survived by her Husband of 58 years Lieutenant Colonel James W. Phillips, USA Retired, adopted daughter Jean-Marie Button (Douglas) of Clark/Grand Junction, CO, adopted daughter Linda Grace McGinnis (Roland) of Knoxville, TN, five grand-children Brian Bjerke and Christopher Bjerke of Dallas (children of Linda by a previous marriage), Kathleen Button and Wiley Button of Clark, CO and Joshua McGinnis of Knoxville, TN, two great grand-children Kaylee Bjerke and Aaron Bjerke, and brothers James Wallace (Mary) of Houston, David Wallace (Bobbie), sister-in-law Charlene Wallace of Dallas and sister-in-law Shirley Wallace of Duncanville and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family wishes to thank the care givers of Martha from Care Staff of Dallas for their diligent work over the past 18 months. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2010, at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the main sanctuary of Park Cities Baptist Church, 3933 Northwest Parkway, Dallas, TX 75225. Burial will be at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery at 9:00 a.m., July 26, 2010. In lieu of flowers family requests contributions be made to the Texas Voice Project for Parkinsons Disease, 500 North Coit Road, Suite 2085, Richardson, TX 75080 or your charity of choice.