Virginia T. Phillips

Virginia T. Phillips passed on May 30, 2025, at the age of 95, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was the daughter of Hudson B. and Clara Gehring Todd; born in the Spring of 1930 in an apartment above the general store in Preston, Maryland.  When she was a young child the family moved to Cambridge, Maryland and a few years later to the Neck District of Dorchester County, Maryland.  She was a graduate of Cambridge High School. In the fall of 1947, she married Frederick (Fred) A. Phillips of Fishing Creek, Maryland and they shared 67 years of marriage until his passing in 2014.

At the time, Fred worked for a natural gas pipeline company moving from one city to another to lay pipeline to the local community.  Many of these job assignments were long enough that Virginia and children were able to accompany him. Each move required the setting up and dismantling of the household, which was Virginia’s responsibility. The Singer Featherweight sewing machine she had acquired shortly after being married was always a vital item of each move.  In 1959 Fred accepted a job in Dover, Delaware; they lived in Wyoming for a few years and then built a home in Camden where they remained. It was not long and they considered themselves settled in the area and called this “home”, as his job was permanent and their four children attended school and participated in community activities.

Virginia had quickly become an accomplished seamstress making clothes for herself and family, as well as curtains and drapes for their home. Additionally, she did alterations of men’s clothing for men’s stores in Dover; made ballet costumesfor LaNada’s School of Ballet, where her daughters attended classes and participated in recitals.  She made dresses for the flower girls of a cousin’s wedding and when two of her daughters married she made dresses for the flower girls and a suit for the ring bearer.

When her youngest child started school, she joined the Food Service staff of Caesar Rodney School District as a substitute cashier and years later retired as a cafeteria manager. It was during this time that she was also a Girl Scout leader and took her troop on camping trips, taught them life skills, and served as Cookie Chairman.  Also, she participated in the Kent General Hospital’s Junior Board for a short time.

In the mid 1970’s Virginia and Fred became seasonal residents of Ocean City, Maryland where ‘Captain Fred” pursued his passion of operating a sport fishing business for the next 30 plus years. When Virginia retired in 1985 she jumped right into the world of quilting; she was well versed in the world of sewing and fabrics so the transition was easy.  Memberships in local quilt guilds, “Delmarvalous” and “Piecemakers”,  proved to bring her a lot of personal satisfaction through the friends she made and the challenges of learning new quilting techniques and projects. Paper piecing, hand applique, and rouching were her favorite methods of quilting. She frequently carried a pizza box with her containing the makings of a quilt block in case she had time to put in a few stitches. Her skills and commitment to the craft were acknowledged through awards received at the local and national levels. A few years before her death she gave more than 100 finished quilts in various bed sizes and 50 finished wall hangings to her family.

She is predeceased by her parents: Hudson B. and Clara Gehring Todd; brothers: Russell and Clyde Todd;  husband: Frederick A. Phillips; children: Mary Jean and Frederick (Rick) J. Phillips.

Surviving Virginia is her brother: Kenneth L. Todd; daughters and sons-in-law: Teresa P. and Dennis S. Blades; Emilie P. and Glenn A. Courtney; Ann P. and Danny J. Skeans; grandchildren: Tina H. Gustafson; Linda H. Arnold; James F. Hunter; Tara B. Pieroni; Miles C. Courtney; Alexis H.  Courtney; great grandchildren: A. Duston Hunter; W. Kyle Boyce; Steven L. Hunter; Holden J. Hunter; Chayton H. Miller; Evan T. Pieroni; Juniper W. Cheatham; Esme W. Courtney; Jax W. Cheatham; great-great grandchildren: Nathan D. Hunter; Sylar B. Hunter; Jonah K. Boyce; Hannah M. Boyce; Taryn K. Hunter; Dorian K. Hunter; Sullivan J. Boyce. Additionally, daughter-in-law: Chandra G. Phillips; several nephews and cousins. 

Services will held on Monday, June 9, 2025 at Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Avenue, Camden-Wyoming, DE 19934.  A viewing will be held at noon with services to follow at 1 P.M.  Burial will be at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden, Delaware. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to AccentCare Hospice and Pallative Care, 220 Continental Drive, Suite 407, Newark, DE 19713 or Camden-Wyoming Fire Company, 200 E. Camden-Wyoming Avenue, Camden-Wyoming, Delaware, 19934.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia T. Phillips, please visit our floral store.