Grace Phillips

Grace Eulene (Janzen) Phillips passed away on January 19, 2022 in Vancouver, Washington. She was born April 24, 1934 in Perryton, Texas to Abe R. Janzen and Emma Rahenkamp Janzen. This was during the Dust Bowl years and Emma died while Grace was a young one year old. Grace was placed in a crib with a wet blanket over it to protect her from the dust.
Grace was placed in a Children's Home in Henderson, Nebraska when she was one year old for a period of time, also with people who wished to adopt her. She lived with an aunt Kathryn Janzen Fast and her husband Henry when she began school.
When Grace was in the third grade, her father married Pauline Unruh. Pauline had two sons, Bob and Jerry. Bob, a step brother, became an Assembly of God minister and lives in Sunnyside, Washington. Jerry, a half brother, became a Vice Admiral in the Navy and lives in Pensacola, Florida.
Grace loved school and reading. She made good grades. Her father moved to Dallas, Oregon when Grace was in third grade. Her father worked in the sawmills. When Grace was a sophomore in high school, her father's diabetes deteriorated so that he left his job and they moved to New London, a country development between Kingsburg and Dinuba, California. His sister Kathryn, and family lived next door.
Grace attended Kingsburg High School her Junior and Senior years. She graduated with high honors and was student body secretary and business manager of the school newspaper and annual which meant selling ads to local businesses. She attended Reedley College the following year.
When her step brother, Bob, graduated from high school, they moved to Yakima, Washington to live with the Unruh grandparents.
Grace got a secretarial job at the American Red Cross and was able to walk to work. They attended the Stone Church which was also within walking distance. They did not have a car as neither Pauline or Grace drove.
While in Yakima, Grace met her future husband, Don Phillips. Grace lived in Garberville, California where Don's family lived and did secretarial work at Bank of America. Don was drafted into the Army and he spent 18 months in Germany. While overseas, Grace lived with a family in Toledo, Oregon and babysat and did housework.
After Don returned home he went to work for United Airlines as a mechanic at the San Francisco airport. Later they lived in Daly City, San Bruno and then moved to Hayward where they bought a home.
After some period of time, they moved to Vancouver, Washington and Don worked at the Portland, Oregon airport and Grace worked for Geological Survey doing secretarial work and later for Bonneville Power Administration at the Ross Complex. After a period of time, Grace transferred to Portland to work for the Bonneville Power Administration.
They lived in Ridgefield, Washington during this time period while they worked and built two homes on five acres each. After 33 years, they sold their home and moved to Salmon Creek Estates which is near their church, Hillcrest Nazarene, Fred Meyer, the bank, gas station, etc.