NORWICH – Frances June Kohl Phillips, 89, passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012 in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
She was born June 4, 1922 in Belleville, the daughter of Conrad and Grace Carter Kohl and was a 1940 graduate of the Belleville Union Academy School. During World War II, she was literally “Rosie the Riveter” as she was employed at Cutis-Wright in Buffalo, where she installed the landing gear assembly on the P-40 fighter aircraft.
On Nov. 17, 1945, in Belleville, she married Paul Phillips, who passed away in 2004. In her early years she helped her husband on several dairy farms in Jefferson County. In 1953, she moved to Norwich and was employed at the Norwich Knitting Mill for several years. Frances was well known for her seamstress abilities and did alterations for Hirsch’s Men’s Store. In 1960 she opened and operated a child day care in her home and is survived by hundreds of children that she cared for, for over 40 years.
Frances was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is survived by her sons, Alan (Jayne) Phillips of Norwich, Gary (Cindy) Phillips of Carthage, Miss., her grandchildren, Jeff (Megan) Phillips of Misawa AB, Japan, Brian (Emily) Phillips of Norwich, Jennifer (Craig) Bennett of Oxford, Miss., Sara Jayne Phillips of Norwich and Megan and Mark Stanard.
Frances was predeceased by her parents, her husband Paul, and her four brothers and three sisters: Ralph, Terry, Earl and Harold Kohl, Margaret Kohl, Florence Kohl Hudson and Ferne Kohl Andersom.
Private graveside services for Frances will be held at the convenience of the family from the Mt. Hope Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
Arrangements are with the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.