Helen McDowell Phillips
Helen McDowell Phillips, 93, of Chicora died Friday at A Place to Call Home Elderly Care in Ohio.
Helen was born in Butler on March 17, 1925, to the late James McDowell and Grace Brown McDowell.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey H. Phillips; sons, David H. Phillips, John P. Phillips (Michele) and James R. Phillips (Tanya); brother, James McDowell; brother-in-law, Donald O. Oesterling; and nephews, Matthew and Peter Oesterling (Judy).
She is survived by her sister, Ann McDowell Oesterling (Donald); grandchildren, Kellen Phillips (Melanie), Sean Phillips, Tiffany Monk (Steve), Sarah Phillips and Josh Phillips; great-grandchildren Ellie, Westen, John and Trinity; niece Dawn Oesterling Prebula (Gary); and nephew Michael Oesterling (Penny).
Helen graduated from Butler High School where her father was the football coach. A lifelong Butler resident, Helen was active in the Butler Women's Club, the Fort Pitt Retriever Club and several bridge clubs.
She was a longtime active member of the North Butler United Presbyterian Church. Helen loved nature and the outdoors and was a long-standing member of the National Audubon Society.
Known in the area as a trainer of field dogs, Helen won several United States and Canadian National Field Championships with her golden and Labrador retrievers.
As an avid Steelers, Penguins and Western Pennsylvania sports enthusiast, she loved talking about them and watching them on TV.
PHILLIPS — Friends of Helen McDowell Phillips, who died Friday, July 13, 2018, are invited to attend a graveside service at 10 a.m. Wednesday at North Butler Presbyterian Church Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. atthe North Butler Presbyterian Church, 137 N. Butler Church Road, Chicora, with the Rev. Mary Kitchen officiating.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John P. Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund or the McDowell, Phillips, Oesterling Football Scholarship at Slippery Rock University, One Morrow Way, 100 Old Main, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.Arrangements are under the direction of the Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St. Butler.For more information, go to www.youngfuneralhomes.com.
