Mary Margaret Phillips Bales passed away peacefully and went to her Lord on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. She was born in Gunter, Texas, to the late Eula Phillips and Obera Frances Johnson Phillips on September 23, 1923.
The family moved to the James F. Welder Ranch, Vidauri, Texas, near Refugio where Mary attended school, graduating in the Spring of 1942. She was a Cheerleader and a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps for the Refugio High School Bobcats. She continued her education at Incarnate Word Academy in Victoria, Texas.
Her first job took her to Washington D.C. where she worked for the Office of Naval Intelligence during World War II. After the war, she began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Houston, Texas, in different capacities for 36 years, 3 months and 1 day.
Upon retiring, she moved with her husband William Ronald Bales to their home in Mission Valley in Victoria, Texas where she lived the remainder of her life. During that time, she was a dedicated member of the College Church of Christ and an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She also supported many children’s charities, as well as Native American charities.
Mary was a wonderful wife, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt to her many nieces and nephews and a friend to many.
Mary is survived by her brother Dr. Eula Phillips and sister-in-law Barbara Morrow Phillips, sister Virginia Phillips Milton, nephews Robert Wade Phillips, James Clayton Phillips, Clayton Phillips, David Wayne Phillips, Alex Richard Aquino, Richard Louis Bunn, Bryce Wesley Bunn, Nicolas Kirkpatrick, Thomas Wade Phillips, Jr., Thomas Wade Phillips III, Taylor Milton Knauth and nieces Shea Nichole Phillips, Linda Kay Tucker, Jessalyn Phillips Mojica, Kaitlyn Phillips Trujillo, Jamie Rose Phillips, Laura Bunn Aquino, Allison Aquino Markello, Amy Louisa Aquino, Susan Bunn Kirkpatrick, Annabel Kirkpatrick Eberwine, Mary Norma Kirkpatrick, Debra Phillips Land, Mary Kathleen Phillips, Melissa Milton Knauth and Lucy Rives Knauth.
She is preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Flora Phillips, sister Norma Frances Phillips Bunn, brother-in-law Joseph Forman Bunn III, brother Thomas Wade Phillips, sister-in-law Barbara Gregorcyk Phillips, and brother-in-law Arnold Powell Milton.
The family wishes to acknowledge the friendship and care of her doctors William Shay, Thomas Trevino, and Peng Yu. The family also wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Hospice of South Texas Dornberg Center and her caretakers Valerie Mares and Andrew Garcia.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 10:00 am until 11:00 am followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 am at Rosewood Funeral Chapel, Interment immediately following at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or charity of your choice.
