Wanda Jean Philips

Wanda Jean Philips: Wife, Mother, Educator, Adventurer and Enthusiastic lover of life; 93 of Akron, Iowa passed away Monday, December 2, 2024, at Via Christi Villages in Wichita, Kansas.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Adaville Church in rural Merrill, Iowa. There will be a private family burial at the church cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 13, 2025 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred in her name to the Akron Opera House Restoration Project.

Wanda was born in Randolph, Nebraska to Gomer and Irma Lenton.  She lived on a farm with her brother, Keith, and her parents.  Wanda graduated from high school and went on to Wayne State Teachers College where she received her BA in Education.  Her first teaching job was in Laurel, Nebraska.  

Wanda married Richard Philips on January 9, 1954, at the Methodist Church in Randolph, Nebraska.  They were married for over 62 years.  After moving to Akron, Wanda taught at Westfield, Akron, and Akron-Westfield schools for the next 35 years.

Wanda was an adventurous spirit who loved to share her experiences of life, whether she was hunting treasure or interviewing her neighbors.

Wanda was very involved in her communities both in Iowa and in Tarpon Springs, where Richard and Wanda spent their winters. A few of these activities included PEO, Red Hat Society, Akron Community Theatre, Adaville Methodist Church, volunteer at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, Tour Guide for Tarpon Springs Chamber, Bayou on the Bay Presbyterian Church, Patron of Wichita Symphony, and the Book Club at Reflection Ridge.  Richard and Wanda took several mission trips through United Methodist Volunteer in Mission.  Church mission trips include: Palmer, Alaska, the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana, and Dulac, Louisiana where they helped people in need. She enjoyed talking and learning about the people they served.

In Key West, FL, Wanda’s shining moment was working with Mel Fisher at Treasure Salvors. She had a blast and made many friends in Florida. From then on until her death, she loved to tell the story of her adventures while there.   

Wanda’s passion was writing.  She continued to write a monthly article “Just Thought You’d Like to Know” for The Akron Hometowner.   She felt that telling stories kept memories alive and was a living history book for the family. One of her journalistic career highlights was being invited to appear on the Bonnie Hunt show.  Evidently, Bonnie Hunt’s staff was looking for interesting articles in small town newspapers and found Wanda’s articles from the Akron Hometowner.  They flew Richard and Wanda to Los Angeles, all expenses paid, and hosted them for two days. None of this could have been accomplished without her readers and she loved receiving letters and notes from her audience. 

Survivors include their four children: Valerie Philips (Randy Elam) of Wichita, KS, Vance (Vickie) Philips of Odessa, Fl, Greta (Tom) Ford of Key West, Fl, and Matthew (Laura) Philips of Decatur, IL; grandchildren: Austin, Peter, Maggie, Grant, Stephanie, Caitlin, Alex, Alyssa, Grant and Kelly; great grandchildren: Isaac, Coralin, Quinn and Crew; sister-in law: Margaret Talbot of Hawarden, and many nephews and nieces. 

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Richard Philips; her parents, Irma and Gomer Lenton; brother and sister-in-law, Keith and Kathleen Lenton; and granddaughter, Ashley Philips.