Agusta Virginia Phipps

Agusta Virginia Phipps went peacefully home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 10, 2010. Mrs. Phipps was 93 and at home, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Phipps was born in Kyle, N.C. on October 29, 1916. She was the youngest child of Reuben and Elizabeth Bateman. She came to California in the 1940's and eventually married her husband of 54 years, Robert W. Phipps, who preceded her in death in 1999. They lived in Long Beach, Calif. for many years. Mrs. Phipps was active at Faith Presbyterian Church and several women's groups, as a floral arranger and event coordinator, with her talent for crafts and decorating. In the mid-1970's, Mrs. Phipps opened a retail store in Oceanside, and the La Jolla, Calif., calling it "Treasure House," specializing in Oriental gifts, antiques and décor. In the 1980's, she branched out with a second store in Palm Desert, Calif. on El Paseo Drive. She also enjoyed her numerous buying trips to China. After living in Carlsbad, Calif. after Mr. Phipps passed away, her later years were spent in Indian Wells, Calif. full time. Virginia Phipps is survived by her daughter, Nancy and son-in-law, Patrick O'Brien of Prescott, Ariz.; as well as many nieces and nephews in the North Carolina and Tennessee areas. Private funeral services were held at Westminster Memorial Park in Orange County, Calif. where she was interred with her late husband.