Phylis Rubin

March 25, 1926 - August 25, 2014

Phylis Rubin (Nason) Phyl Rubin died peacefully on Monday, August 25, 2014. She was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, on March 25, 1926, to Philip Ellsworth Nason and Irmgard Elsie (Scholz) Nason. Phyl entertained her family and friends with stories from all periods of her life. At age 14 she began working at a potato chip factory after school to help support her family. While it must have been drudgery at the time, she painted vivid and amusing pictures of hand-tying different colored ribbons on the bags to identify which chips went to which store, and dipping the potatoes in hot oil, (which would make today's OSHA inspectors cringe). Phyl came from a poor family; her parents had limited education, and were unable to help her prepare for her future. One of her teachers, who saw her potential, recommended her to a secretarial school which accepted her. Upon graduation, she began working for the Armstrong Cork Company. While she dearly loved her job orienting the new employees, she longed to stretch her wings and find life beyond Braintree. Her opportunity came when she saw a recruitment advertisement from the U.S. Department of State for Foreign Service secretaries. Following training in Washington D.C., her first post was Bonn, the then capital of West Germany. Along with several girlfriends, she traveled extensively and freely throughout Europe and the Middle East, enjoying the post-war love of Americans. After a transfer behind the "Iron Curtain" to Berlin, she was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. There she met, then married, Army Sergeant Roger William (Bill) Rubin in 1957. She took that opportunity to shed her given name, Irma, for her middle name and became the better half of "Phyl and Bill." She left the Foreign Service to start a family, but continued to travel as an Army wife. The birth of her daughter, Suzanne Claire, was followed by a second daughter, Leslie Anne. Phyl became heavily involved in the Girl Scouts, attending training in Switzerland, one of the four World Centers. She devoted her life to her daughters and indulged her passion for sewing by burning the midnight oil sewing Barbie doll outfits, complete with tiny snaps and rick-rack trim, as surprises for her girls. Following Bill's retirement after 26 years, they bought their first home in Alexandria, Virginia. She began working for the State Department again as her girls grew up and moved away. During these years, gardening became her passion, which she did until she was no longer physically able. She served for many years on the alter guild at The Church of the Resurrection. With an empty nest, she let her lifelong creative side manifest itself in duck carving and growing Bonsai. Life took an unexpected turn which found her living in Nebraska, Colorado, then Panorama City in Lacey, WA, in 1999. It was here she spent untold hours with her three grandsons, the loves of her life, until the very end. Phyl was preceded in death by her sister, Althea; brother, Paul; husband, Bill; and daughter, Suzanne. She is survived by her sister, Ella Marie of Braintree; daughter, Leslie and son-in-law, Rodney Phillip Stepherson; grandsons, Phillip Rubin, Cory Joseph, and Miles John, all of Olympia, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. To our Mom / Grandmother / Phyl / Sis / Auntie Sis, there are no words to express how much we all love you and miss you. You are the best mom ever and are finally at peace. Phyl will be laid to rest with Bill at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. A donation may be made in her name to the Natural Resources Defense Council or the Sierra Club.