Darlene A. Phillips

Darlene Ann Phillips, daughter of Clifford and Margaret (Martin) Bolinger, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2025. A resident of Vandalia, she was born on January 3, 1943 in Warsaw, Indiana.

Darlene was a 1961 graduate of High School in Atwood, Indiana and went on to a successful career as wife to Thomas Phillips and mother to Michele, Jeff, and Brian. Married to an entrepreneur, she had a large part in the participation and growth of several businesses: Travel Agency, Women’s sportswear, and a Pizza restaurant among other endeavors. A woman of will, she was able to balance all these tasks with her family life successfully. She even found time to take flying lessons and solo an airplane.

She enjoyed playing cards and always looked forward to playing Pinochle with family on the weekends. Darlene was also highly proficient in cross stitching, creating a number of portraits for children and friends.

After retiring to Saint Marys, Georgia in 1994, she learned to golf, was an avid Bridge player, and enjoyed traveling across the United States and Europe.

Darlene is survived by her husband and children, as well as 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her good humor, and friendship with nearly everyone she knew. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 1st, at Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia, OH 45377, from 2PM to 4PM, with services following immediately afterward.