Elva 'Babe' Phipps

ELVA L. "BABE" PHIPPS

Iowa City

Elva L. "Babe" Phipps, 99, of Iowa City, passed away Friday, April 2, 2021, at the Solon Nursing & Rehab Center. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 12, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Following the Mass, Babe will be laid to rest next to her husband at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Instead of flowers and plants, please consider memorial donations to the Solon Retirement Village. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City is handling arrangements. Social distancing at the church is in place and masks are required. Thank you for your compliance.

Born Elva Leona Wilson on Jan. 1, 1922, in Iowa City, Iowa, to John and Rose (Blazek) Wilson, Babe was raised in Iowa City and graduated from Iowa City High School in 1940. She married her high school sweetheart Richard D. Phipps on June 13, 1943. The couple enjoyed 73 years together. Babe immersed herself in supporting the community, as she was very active in her children's activities, serving as a Camp Fire Girls leader and Cub Scouts den mother.

She was a member of Mercy Hospital Guild in Iowa City of which she was a past-president, PEO in Iowa City, Hot Springs, Ark., and McAllen, Texas, and a member of Entre Nous women's groups.

Babe is survived by her children, Mike (Mary Lou) Phipps of San Marcos, Calif., Julie (Bren) Redifer of Hot Springs, Ark., Rob (Jean) Phipps of Iowa City, Iowa. and Joe Phipps of Hot Springs, Ark.; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2017l and a son, John Phipps, two weeks before her death.

Thoughts may be shared with the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.