Pamela Phillips

Pamela Phillips, at the age of 90, entered eternal rest peacefully Friday afternoon, 19 April 2024 at the North Okaloosa Medical Center Crestview FL. She was born in Banbury, England on the 28 September 1933 Frank and Evelyn Haynes.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Maurice Phillips; her four children, Nigel Manning, Lynn Kent, Ian Manning, and Karen King; her sister, June Jone, and her husband, Ron Jone. She had a large family with 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Pamela is preceded in death by her son, Paul Manning; sister, Ruth; brother, Colin and parents, Evelyn and Frank Haynes.

Pamela was born in 1933 just before World War II, in the small English village of Bloxham. As a young person during this period, she experienced real-life events. Most food items were short and rationed, but she continued to go to school. She has shared stories with her children about watching distant cities being bombed, bombs falling from the sky, and being told to hide under the table. Despite the war, she also had fond memories of her childhood. You wouldn’t believe how different things were in Pamela’s early life. Pamela told many stories of her early life; it has opened many of our eyes to how life was. It has made us thankful for what we have today in our beautiful country. Amen

 Pamela’s mother and grandmother looked after the village hall for years. They organized dances for the troops and the local American troops also attended. When old enough Pamela would attend the dances as she loved to dance.

Pamela attended Sunday school as a child and attended church with her mother. Since moving to Crestview 28 years ago Pamela has been a member of The Church of Epiphany.

Pamela was married at a young age after the war.  She had to live rough in leftover Nessan Huts while waiting for a council house. While there, Pamela had her first three children Nigel, Lynn, and Paul.  Ian and Karen were born later when she had been given a house in Banbury.  Pamela worked in a Pub during the evening and in a shop when her children were older but she loved looking after all her children as they grew up. Pamela later worked in a factory full-time, which was very hard work. She used to have to walk to work and home again, which was several miles away.  

Pamela starts her second life story when she meets an American named Phil, and it was love at first site. The oldest three children were grown now but Karen was only 10 and Ian was 13. Phil had orders to return to America and Pamela went for a long holiday soon after. They traveled together across America to visit her sister June and her family in North Carolina. They also went to visit Phil’s family in New Hampshire.  While in America Phil proposed, and she was engaged when she returned to England. All her children were very happy for her.

 Phil traveled back to England at Christmas, and they were married on New Year’s Eve. Pamela and Karen came to America to live with Phil, it was hard living in a trailer downtown in Clovis N.M. We soon moved to base housing. Pam and Karen were shocked when they arrived in March to find snow on the ground. They were also shocked when first seeing tumbleweed as they thought it was only in movies.

They stayed at Canaan AFB for about 18 months and Karen started to attend an American school. Pamela learned how to drive a car, which is something she never thought she would do. While at Clovis they did lots of traveling. They went to the Grand Canyon on the way to Las Vegas. From there they went to Los Angeles and Disney Land. Before returning to England after 18 months they travelled across to North Carolina to visit her sister and her family and up to New Hampshire to visit Phil's family.

Their next assignment was to RAF Lakenheath, England where they remained for 11 years. Pam and Phil went to RAF Upper Heyford next and lived back in Pamel’s hometown of Banbury. Pamela loved being close to family and had many get-togethers at their house. Before returning to America, they also lived at RAF Fairford. During their time back in England Pamela loved travelling all over Europe with Phil.  Out of 30 years in the Air Force Pamela was with me19 for years.

Their final assignment was Hurlbert Field, which brought them to Crestview.  They both liked the community and bought a home together. Phil became a Real Estate Agent with Teel & Waters for the next 27 years. During the time they have lived in America, they traveled to every Capital in the U.S., going to most several times. Pamela also returned to England every year to visit her family. Her children also came to visit here and enjoyed their holidays. Pamela and Phil lived their life to the full.

In lieu of flowers kindly consider memorial contributions in memory of Pamela Phillips to Church of the Epiphany 424 Garden Street Crestview FL32536.

A memorial service will be held at the church of Epiphany 424 Garden Street Crestview FL on the 27th of April 2024 at 11 am. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome.

Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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