Polly Tharp Phillips

Polly Virginia Tharp Phillips
Born - September 8 th, 1927
Parents - Justie Virginia Michna VanDegrift and William Briggs VanDegrift Descendants of the Michna family immigrants from Czechoslovakia (Bohemia) 1 st arrived in Texas in 1860 and the VanDegrift family into the US thruTennessee prior to 1800.
Polly was raised in a devout Presbyterian church with a humble faith in God and commitment to always be thankful, positive and help others. Her Passions were her Godly family values. Her artwork included numerous watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings. Plus, a bronze sculpture of an oil man was published in several papers, and extensive high quality DIY projects. She did some artwork in Italy and Brazil, but last painting was in 2008 due to her poor eyesight. She loved helping others, giving to others, all types of music, played the piano and loved to dance. She was always positive and focused on the joy of sharing. She was very smart and independent, a beautiful and "Classy" woman, well dressed in quality jewelry who did some modeling in her 40's.
She never complained but would stand her ground if she disagreed. She liked a good adventure like the rapids in Grand Canyon and trying to water ski for the 1 st time in her 60's.
Polly attended Hardin College and worked as a draftsman for several years. Met and married Billy Joe Tharp (Poppy) in April 1947. He was born into a poor family in Corsicana, Tx in 1923 and served in the Army from 1941 to 1945. He settled in Wichita Falls, Tx where he met Polly and worked his way thru and graduated from Midwestern State University. They had 2 daughters. Her daughters are Deborah Ann (Debby) Oct 20, 1949, and Anita Gail Aug 31, 1951. The family moved to Dallas, Tx where Bill worked for US Steel, Oilwell as an Executive. They moved to Midland, Tx in 1964 where Bill passed in 1989.
In 1995 while doing volunteer work for the Midland Hospice she met Earl Phillips who had lost his wife to cancer. They were married February 17,1996. They lived in Austin, Texas until Earl passed on August 20, 2017. Polly lived near her daughter Gail Hudgins in Buda, Texas until her passing on November 29, 2022 at the age of 95.
She is survived by her 1 st daughter Debby Campbell and her husband Bill Campbell in Littleton, CO and her 2 nd daughter Gail Hudgins and her husband Joe Hudgins in Buda, Texas. Also, she has 3 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one Grandson.