Delma W. (Farnell) Phebus

Delma W. Phebus, 93, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at River Oaks Health Campus surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born January 12, 1927, the daughter of Walter and Edith Farnell of Ocala, Florida.  Delma graduated from Lake City High School in Florida in May of 1945.  She met the “love of her life,” Bill Phebus, at a church social where they had an introduction game to meet.  Bill saw she had the phrase “A penny saved is a…” and he found the other half of it “…a penny earned.”  It always remained with the family pictures.  She married Gail William (Bill) Phebus on December 22, 1945, in Lake City, Florida, where he was stationed in the Navy.  After Bill was discharged, they returned to Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  They enjoyed 69 Years of marriage before his death on December 29, 2014.

Delma was a devoted mother and wife.  She was a gifted homemaker, seamstress, enjoyed her home immensely, crafts of all kinds, reading, writing, genealogy, baking, playing the piano, antiquing, working with her flowers and African violets.  She was a 4-H leader, Sunday school and VBS teacher, and played the piano at the Maud Christian Church for many years.  Delma loved to visit the elderly, making meals for them and helping them anyway she could.  She gathered children in the rural area around Maud church to take them to VBS.

Delma and Bill purchased Geuss Beauty Supply in Evansville, Indiana, in 1972.  They moved to Evansville and ran it for twenty years, where Delma worked as the Office Manager.  They attended First Christian Church while they lived there.  In 1992, they retired and moved back to Mt. Carmel.  After retirement, they traveled the country in their motor home, spending winters in Florida and Texas visiting friends and family.  Delma was a member of Parkview Christian Church in Mt. Carmel.

Left to cherish Delma’s memory are her daughters Diana Hall and Connie (Ed) McPherson of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and son Ben (Diana) Phebus of Evansville, Indiana; grandchildren Derick (Laura) Wiggins, Erin (George) McCullough, Darby (Justin) Stickler, Erika (Chance) Powell, Bret, Trent, Drew (Emily) Phebus, David (Kerry) Hall, Clarissa (Randy) VanVickle; greatgrandchildren Morgan, Paige, John Martin and Levi Stickler, Sloane and Whitney Powell, Jules and Jackson McCullough, Lauren and Courtney Hall, Nick, Alex and Zack VanVickle, Riley, Josie & Ella Wiggins, Kylie & Gavin Phebus; sister, Marjorie Byrd of Columbia, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

Delma is preceded in death by her husband Bill; grandson Dale William Phebus; a sister Theta Montgomery; and son-in-law Jack Hall.

The family would like to thank River Oaks for the care they gave their mother.  It was a caring place with loving caregivers during an especially difficult time with dealing with Covid.

A private Graveside Service is planned for family and close friends at Highland Memorial Cemetery, 1827 College Drive, Mt. Carmel, Illinois, at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 14, 2020.  Covid guidelines will apply.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Parkview Christian Church, 11467 N 1550 Blvd, Mt. Carmel, Illinois 62863 or can be mailed or dropped off at the funeral home, Short Funeral Home, P.O. Box 397, Mt. Carmel, Illinois 62863.

Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com

Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Delma’s family.

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