Obituary: Clara B. Phillips, 81

Clara B. Phillips, of Leesburg, died in her home Thursday, Sept. 5, after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. She was 81.

Born June 28, 1932, in Sneedville, TN, Clara was the eighth of John Barnard and Nora Winkler Barnard’s 15 children.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Clara deeply loved her family and her faith and her caring spirit will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Alfred L. Phillips, and her daughter, Penny Jean Phillips; Six brothers, Roy Barnard, Dayton (Brote) Barnard, Ben Barnard, Jay Barnard, Clarence (Butch) Barnard and Elmer Barnard; Four sisters, Rene Perry, Almae Winkles, Emloe (Jo) Helton and Helen Baker.

Left to cherish her loving memory are her children: Brenda Prestidge, Michael Phillips and his wife Robin, and Tricia Virts and her husband Dan, all of Leesburg; her sisters: Lucille Baker, Loretta Bell and Lois Holmes; and her brother, Kyle Barnard.

She’ll also be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Kenneth Prestidge and his wife Holly, Nichole Phillips and her husband Jon Cichowicz, Bryan Phillips, Amanda Virts, Megan Virts and Ryan Virts, as well as two great-granddaughters: Taylor Prestidge and Kennedy Prestidge.

Clara was a dedicated member of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company and a member of Leesburg Community Church.

Funeral services are Monday, Sept. 9, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel with Dr. Alan Simpson officiating. She’ll be buried next to her husband and daughter at Union Cemetery in Leesburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Clara's memory to American Cancer Society, 124 Park Street, SE, Vienna, VA 22180, Blue Ridge Hospice 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.

Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com.