Ruby Virginia Phillips

Funeral service for Ruby Virginia Phillips was 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2024 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial followed in Highland Cemetery.
Ruby Virginia Phillips, age 87, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Born on October 23, 1936, in Lawton, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Crado Bruce and Lillie Belle (Ballenger) Runyan. Ruby grew up in the Cache area, where she attended Cache Schools.
She and James Eddie Phillips exchanged vows on November 28, 1952 in the home of Duane and Ruby Huscher, southeast of Cache.  Ruby was only sixteen when they married and they moved to Norman, Oklahoma, attending OU together while James Eddie worked on his bachelor's degree in mathematics.  She earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Cameron College in 1973.
Though Ruby's primary focus was her family, she also embraced various roles outside the home. One of her first positions was with the civil service at Fort Sill, a role she found both exciting and rewarding. She later worked in education, becoming a dedicated substitute teacher. Ruby also served as an adult education tutor and worked in the Chattanooga School library. James Eddie and Ruby were dedicated to their family farm. Ruby was always excited to share her farm life experience and adventures with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her family brought tremendous joy to her heart and a smile on her face anytime she spoke of them.
She was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church and had been active in the United Methodist Women’s group.  She was also a founding member of the Cameron University Foundation President’s Partners.  She was also a member of Phi Delta Kappa, the honor society for teaching, and she was an honorary Chapter Farmer with the FFA. James Eddie and Ruby were named the Comanche County Farm Family of the Year in 1997.
She is survived by her daughter, Polly Belle Krasser and husband Jerry, Faxon; her son and daughter-in-law, BG (USA Retired) Michael Phillips, PhD and wife Mendy, Faxon; four grandchildren and their spouses, Lindsey and John Billen, MAJ James Phillips, CPT Virginia Phillips, M.D., and Danea and Nathan Ray; four great grandchildren, Lila Billen, Blakely Billen, Marley Ray and Lily Ray; her brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Genny Runyan; sisters-in-law, Mary LaFrance and Coline Runyan; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a son, MAJ (Retired) Eddie Mitchell “Mitch” Phillips, two brothers-in-law, Lawrence LaFrance and Bill Runyan, and her sister-in-law, Amydell Byrd and husband Harvey.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chattanooga School Library, PO Box 129, Chattanooga, OK 73528 or Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, PO Box 6025, Lawton, OK 73506.