Thelma Jean (Thornton) Phillips, 82, passed away at the Indiana Regional Medical Center on Friday, December 6, 2013. She lived in her home on Franklin Street in Clymer for more than 50 years, and most recently was a resident at Rustic Manor Personal Care Home.
The daughter of Charles (Wes) and Arlene Neeley Thornton, she was born on August 29, 1931 in Mentcle, PA. She was a graduate of Clymer High School and a Christian music major at Houghton College in New York. She worked at Coin Industrial Laundry in Erie, at Troutman’s Department Store in Indiana, and as a secretary for her brother Ronald Thornton. On May 12, 1957 she married the love of her life, Bruce H. Phillips.
Thelma was an active community volunteer and served with the Clymer Fireman’s Auxiliary for more than 60 years, where her husband was the fire chief for over 26 years. She was a member of the Volunteer Fireman’s Association of Cambria County and Vicinity, the Clymer American Legion and the Indiana VFW, and was active with the Red Cross Blood Mobile and the Food Pantry. She also volunteered with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and the Camp Hill United Methodist Preschool and Summer Camp.
Thelma enjoyed her times with her friends at the Twolick Senior Center. She earned many volunteer hours, liked dressing up as a Red Hat Lady, and loved holiday activities, especially Halloween. She was a beloved “Bubbie” to all the kids in her life, and she was happiest when attending their activities or baking for a party where she could laugh, dance, and carry on with her friends and family. She loved all kinds of music, theatre, painting, and poetry, and was an avid Pittsburgh Penguins and Steelers fan.
Thelma is survived by her son John, Camp Hill, her daughter Tracy and granddaughter Nittany Hendricks, Bradenton, Florida, granddaughter Amanda (Herbster) Neczypor and husband Christopher, Newtown, grandson Travis Glasser and fiancé Jessica Lambert, Oakmont, brother Ronald Thornton, Clymer, brother Richard Thornton and wife Shirley, Clymer, sister-in-law Martha Jean Phillips, Cherry Tree, brother-in-law George Phillips, Blue Bell, great-granddaughters Harper Ann and Samantha Claire Neczypor, Newtown, step-brother Glenn Propst, Indiana, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Clair and Nellie Phillips, her step-mother Mabel Thornton, her husband Bruce, her sisters Dorothy Thornton and H. Winifred Marsh, and beloved family members Rhea Thornton, Reverend Robert Marsh, Debbie Phillips Smuro, Danielle Bence, Einsel and Bunny Phillips, Bob and Ruth Phillips, Ralph and Olga Phillips, Leland Phillips, Louie Neeley, and Avonelle and Jim Dixon.

Friends will be received on Thursday, December 12, 2013 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home, Clymer. Additional visitation will be on Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. with her funeral service following at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Michael Shotts, officiating. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to either the Clymer Volunteer Fire Company, 550 Sherman St., Clymer, PA 15728 or the Twolick Valley Social Center, 450 Franklin St., Clymer PA 15728.

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