Phelps, Lawanna, came into this world on September of 1934 in Texarkana, Texas, the daughter of a line switchman for the Cotten Belt railroad. Lawanna passed away on Friday, January 18, 2019 in Wichita. Soon after graduating Valedictorian from Liberty High class of 1950, Lawanna went to work for a downtown dime store and, later, for the telephone company where she stayed until 1953, at which time she married a young man, Irby, fresh out of the service and started her long journey with him. In 1954 they had a son, John, after which they pulled up stake and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where Irby worked as a plumber for a time. At this point they received word of steady work in Wichita and Irby gained employment at the School Board and Lawanna at Beech Aircraft, as a secretary in Product Support. In 1956 a baby girl came, Linda. The two bought a modest home and spent the next 20 years raising a family. When not cooking or doing house work Lawanna was an avid reader and sometimes read two books a week! She would often read about far away places many of which she would never go however around 1977, after reading “Hawaii” by James Michener she became inspired and signed up for an employee trip to visit Hawaii with coworkers and had an adventure she would remember forever. Lawanna loved to travel, she planned and went on many trips throughout the United States. Lawanna also enjoyed sports such as bicycle riding and volleyball where she played on a women’s league on Wednesday nights during the 60’s. In 1993, she retired and enjoyed her much deserved leisure time and road trips with Irby. The year 2003 was bittersweet because it marked her 50 year anniversary but also the death of her beloved husband. For the first time Lawanna was alone but, with bravery and great difficulity, she faced the lonely road ahead with the love and support of her family into the slow decent of Alzheimer's. Lawanna is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Boyce. Survivors include two kids, John and Linda, two grandchildren, Phillip and Stacy and two great grandchildren, Allen and Blake. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. services following at 2:00 p.m. on Friday January 25, 2019 at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E. 13th St. N., Wichita.
