Margaret A. Phelps

1923 - 2018

Margaret A. Phelps

Reno - Margaret A. Phelps died peacefully on November 20, 2018. She lived a life of joy and meaning, making her life a work of art. She is missed already. Margaret was born in 1923 to Ruby and Lauren Webb in Wichita, Kansas. Like all the Webb daughters, Margaret's strong intellect was obvious early: in grade school she skipped a half grade, twice!

Margaret began working in the family business, Central Key & Safe Co., Inc. - "A key part of Wichita since 1903" - at an early age. Her father, her hero, ran the business. She later revealed that the reason she liked working at the shop was because she "liked to buy shoes."

Margaret's grandmother was her first art instructor and cultivated her early love of art. This love continued throughout her life. In high school Margaret won the only individual prize in a statewide ceramics contest. The contest judge, artist John Steuart Curry, insisted that an individual prize be awarded to Margaret for her sculpture, donating one of his lithographs as the prize. Margaret received a scholarship to the Art Institute/Wichita Museum of Art, continuing her art studies there after high school. Portrait painting was her passion. She painted throughout her life in Wichita. After moving to Reno in 2001, she joined the Reno Portrait Society, working on her craft until the age of 89, when a stroke left her unable to paint.

Margaret inherited a love of animals from her father. The Webb home often served as a shelter for animals on the mend. It is no surprise that she met her future husband, Charles Robert Phelps ("Bob") at the tennis courts where Margaret was playing when he brought his pet ducks over to show her. They married in 1942. They both passed a love of animals to their five children.

Margaret supported all the children's activities - Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, baseball, softball, football, guitar, drums, banjo, piano, trumpet, drama, and ballet to name a few. She and another mom started the first physical education program at school when they realized organized exercise was lacking for the students. All five children graduated college; all earned advanced degrees.

Margaret loved to learn. She kept the dictionary and encyclopedia in the dining room. During a spirited dinner conversation about an issue or word, Margaret would say, "Let's look it up," select the proper authority from the shelf, and read the answer while passing the green beans. She taught her children that if you have a question, you can find an answer, but you have to be willing to look for it.

Margaret was forward thinking. In the 60s, she taught her family about and supported the civil rights and the women's movements. She attended the first Soul Food Festival in Wichita, an event created to build community. She volunteered to go door to door, registering African American voters. An original subscriber to Ms. Magazine, she always maintained her support for equality and justice. She had hoped to see a woman inaugurated as president in 2016. For many years Margaret was a volunteer English teacher for Viet Nam refugees. She later said she learned as much from her students as they learned from her.

After the children left the nest, Margaret and Bob spent more time sailing their small sailboat, camping at Marion Lake in their camper trailer and visiting grandchildren. They moved to Reno in 2001 to be closer to grandchildren. They were married 60 years. After Bob's death, Margaret had to start a new life. She learned T'ai Chi and practiced for many years with the late Mark Lord. She traveled across the U.S., visiting grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and to Mexico, China, Japan, England, France, and Italy.

Margaret continued to support the management at Central Key & Safe throughout her life, eventually becoming president of the corporation, a position she held until the last few years. Her gratitude to the management and employees of Central Key was deep; her family shares that gratitude.

Margaret was small, but mighty. If she witnessed an injustice, she spoke up. She considered herself rather shy, but she did not shrink from controversy. She worked quietly for fairness in every situation, winning others over with her logical, sound analysis. Friends and family knew they could count on her. The family is grateful for the loving care provided over the last six years by Margaret's team: Lend A Hand Senior Services (and Leona, Debbie, Lena, and Denise); Circle of Life Hospice (and Fran, Anna, Jackie, Heidi, Ludi, Chris, and Angel); Margaret's home away from home, St. Anne's Group Home (and Nucharee, Irene, Darlyn, Nerry, Josie, "Doctor Dela," and Renee), and her doctors.

Margaret is survived by her children, Deborah Brewer of Norman, OK; John Phelps (Melisa) of Whitefish, MT; Mary Phelps Dugan (Daniel) of Reno, NV; Richard Phelps of San Diego, CA; her daughter-in-law Kathy Phelps of Fairfax, VA; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Margaret was preceded in death by husband Bob and their son, Stephen T. Phelps.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at McKinley Arts & Culture Center: 925 Riverside Drive, Reno, NV 89503.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Margaret's favorite organizations: Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splcenter.org); Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org); Amnesty International (www.amnesty.org); or UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org). Arrangements are through Walton Funeral Home. Please visit and sign the guestbook at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.