Dorothy S Phillips

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy Singer Phillips. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for nearly 75 years. Dorothy was born October 5, 1924 in Santa Fe, NM to Frank H. and Angeline B. Singer.

At age 4, Dorothy and her family moved to Lordsburg, NM. She graduated Lordsburg High School in 1942. She was awarded the Lordsburg Business and Professional Woman’s Club College Scholarship. She also had the distinction of having attended the Methodist Church Sunday School for 12 years without an absence.

In 1944, Dorothy moved with her family to Colorado Springs, as her father’s employer received the contract to develop the roads at Camp Carson and Camp Hale.

Dorothy started Colorado College, completed 21/2 years and decided to take a year off and work full time. She was very active in the Young Peoples Group at the First Methodist Church and, all in this group knew she was looking for a secretarial position. One of the young ladies told her that she was going to resign her job in the City Manager’s Office the next morning and suggested she apply for the job. The position was clerical support to the City Manager’s secretary. She was interviewed, given a typing test and hired to start work on January 29, 1947. Since there was not enough work in the City Manager’s Office to keep a girl busy full time, the Police Department supplied enough work to fill the day. Gradually she was doing more and more work for the Police Department and found it very interesting. In 1948, the current Chief, I.B. “Dad” Bruce, requested a full time secretary and the position was approved. Dorothy was so intrigued with the police work she had been doing that she knew she had to have the job, as returning to college faded into the background. Since her work record and capabilities had already been demonstrated, she was selected for the position and thus transferred to the Police Department, the only female on the roster. When she moved into her office, the Chief immediately told the police officers there absolutely would not be any swearing around her, no dirty stories, no hanging around her office, and she would be treated like a lady at all times. This never changed and she received this respect her entire career with the Police Department. This career, as Executive Secretary to the Chief of Police, spanned 42 years, through 5 chiefs including Bruce, McKissick, Boling, Tagert and officially retiring with Munger on January 27, 1989.

Dorothy was married on October 20, 1973 to Donald C. Phillips, the first marriage for both. She always thought Don was a wonderful husband and expressed how he always was so kind. She participated in all of the Masonic activities in which her husband was involved. Throughout their marriage, they traveled extensively in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii and also visited Belize, Canada, England, Grenada, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Scotland and Switzerland.

Dorothy belonged and was very active in the Pueblo Assembly No. 11 Social Order of the Beauceant, Ruhamah Temple No. 71 Daughters of the Nile, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter CE. She was also a member of the Fifty Year Club of the National Alumni Association of Colorado College.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, and her husband of 35 years. She is survived by a nephew, a niece and their spouses.

We would like to express the utmost appreciation to the employees of The Bridge assisted living, who cared for and loved Dorothy for 9 years.

A memorial service will be held on May 17, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Swan Law Cascade Chapel, 501 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs. Private interment to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Pueblo Assembly No. 11 Social Order of the Beauceant, c/o Mrs. Norma Shafer, 17735 E. Prentice Drive, Centennial, CO 80015 or the Ruhamah Temple No. 71 Daughters of the Nile, c/o PQ Diane Thompson, 3467 Trenary Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.