Phyllis Ann Encinias

Phyllis was born March 26, 1933, in Washington, NC, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Alligood. She graduated from Washington High School in 1951 and attended the Woman’s College, now UNC-Greensboro. After college she worked briefly for the National Security Agency in Washington, DC, and then for the late Herbert Bonner, the long-time US Congressman for the first district of North Carolina. She lived in Georgetown with other secretaries who were working for Southern Congressmen, and an article in The Washington Post dubbed their house “The Confederate Embassy.” In DC Phyllis met and married Lou Encinias from Las Vegas, New Mexico, and there they had their first child, Lucia.

Phyllis, Lou, and baby Lucia moved to Southbridge, Massachusetts, where Lou worked for American Optical Company. Afterwards they lived in Mexico City, where they had their second child, Greg, and then in Puerto Rico, where they had their third, Angie. They returned to the DC area when Lou went to work for the US Department of Commerce, and they lived in McLean, Virginia, for the next 27 years. Phyllis and Lou spent their retirement years in North Carolina, first at Cypress Landing in Chocowinity and then at River Landing in Colfax. They were married for 67 years.

Phyllis enjoyed life to the fullest. She always found things to laugh about. She loved her friends. Phyllis and Lou loved to travel all over the world.

She is survived by her husband, Lou; her 3 children–Lucia Linhard (and Joseph) of Gastonia, NC, Greg Encinias (and Courtney) of Falls Church, VA, and Angie Moses (and Mike) of Charlotte, NC. She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren–Ben Linhard, Emma Linhard, Dylan Moses, Austin Moses, and Nick Encinias.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 4:00 p.m., at

River Landing at Sandy Ridge, 1575 John Knox Drive, Colfax, NC 27235. (Ask at the main gate for independent living, 2nd stop sign on the right, enter through the main entrance, which is under construction, and they can direct you to the MPR, multi purpose room.)

In lieu of flowers you could give to your local Salvation Army.