A memorial service for Dortha Fay Phipps Futch will be held Saturday, Sept. 4 at 11:00 AM at Immanuel Baptist Church in San Angelo, TX. Covid vaccination is strongly encouraged, and masks are required.
Dortha is survived by 2 daughters, one son and their families - Renae Futch Suberg and Tracy of Canyon Lake, TX, Faye Futch Shaw and Casey of Livingston, LA and Paul and Sheila Futch of Garland, TX. Dortha treasured her 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Surviving siblings are a brother, Donovan Phipps from Lamesa, TX and a sister, Frances Barbini of Houston, Tx.
Dortha Fay was born on July 22, 1934 to Virgil and Clarice Bolch Phipps in Lynn County, TX. Her childhood was spent in the Dawson County area where she was the valedictorian of her graduating class in 1952 from Welch ISD. Soon afterward, she began her marriage of 53 years to JC Futch Jr. After the wedding, JC was drafted and deployed to Germany where Dortha Fay was able to spend 1 year with him exploring Europe in their free time. Upon return from the service, Dortha Fay and JC began their shared life of cotton farming in Higginbotham, in the Denver City, TX area. She served several years as a bookkeeper at an area gin. She then left the work force to raise and care for her 3 children and volunteer in the church that she loved, Bethel Baptist Church in Denver City. She was a Christian influence to many through her service to youth groups, VBS, women’s organizations and sharing her musical talents as the organist at Bethel for over 40 years. She loved caring for others. If anyone she knew was having a difficult time, she would take them a smile, conversation, bounty from her immense garden and one of her specialty baked goods. She also assisted others in various capacities during many disaster events as a member of the Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief Team. She became an ENT and worked for the Yoakum Co. EMS before beginning a lengthy career as a dispatcher for the Denver City Police Dept. After JC passed away in 2005, she retired to the Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo, where she continued gardening, cooking for neighbors and for church activities, singing with the Melody Makers, and delivering mail to residents until her health begin to fail. She died on Aug 25, 2021 at the age of 87 following a severe fall.
Dortha Fay was preceded in death by her husband, JC Futch Jr, her parents, and a brother Douglas (Jerry) Phipps.
The family would like to thank Dr. Norma Cerna for outstanding medical care and Dortha’s neighbor Frances Evans for her faithful support and friendship. The family is also grateful to the people of Immanuel Baptist Church, the Baptist Retirement Community and the Crest, and Shannon Hospital for their incredible love and care. In lieu of flowers, Dortha ‘s family would encourage a memorial donation to Immanuel Baptist Church Elevator Fund (90 East 14th Street, San Angelo, TX 76903), the Baptist Retirement Community Auxiliary (903 N. Main St., San Angelo, TX 76903), or Shannon Medical Center (Attn: Development Office, PO Box 1879, San Angelo, TX 76902).
