Phyllis Anne Weisenburger

Our Mother, Phyllis A. Weisenburger died November 28, 2017 after a brief illness at age 98. A life-long resident of Bellingham, Mom was born October 8, 1919 in Bellingham to Harry and Ferne (Pratt) Jenkins.
As a young woman, she was athletic and adventurous, hiking the Mount Baker trail system with her older brother and playing intramural basketball in lieu of attending classes at what's now Western Washington University. Her adventurous spirit and commitment to service propelled her to sign up for the military in WWII. She was very proud of her service in the WAC where she attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant in photo reconnaissance. Upon returning home, Mom met her future husband while earning her pilot's license at the Bellingham Airport using her G.I. Bill.
She married Harold A. Weisenburger on Sept 17, 1947. She said that her two children were her proudest accomplishment after her military service. Mom was employed with the Bellingham School District for 25 years in various administrative capacities, including directing the school lunch program. She was well known for her many volunteer service activities through the years. Mom directed her energies to such community health efforts as the first Free Dental Health Clinic in the 1950's through to the Laurendeau Foundation for Cancer Care in the 1990's, where she served on the executive board for many years. She served on the Alderwood Elementary School PTA throughout our childhood, winning the local Washington State PTA Golden Acorn award during her tenure. She was active in the local chapter of American Business Women's Association and was named ABWA Woman of the Year in 1995. She was an avid swimmer and golfer throughout her life, scoring her first hole-in-one on the 16th hole at Lake Padden Golf Course on July 14, 1982. In her later years, her greatest joy was family. She looked forward to her monthly "cousin's lunch" and always enjoyed a good meal out when all the family was together. She was a loving great grandmother to her two young great granddaughters, bragging about their accomplishments to any that would listen
Mom was preceded in death by our father Harold, her parents and two brothers, J. David Jenkins and Harry S. Jenkins, Jr. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Ellen and Verne Barnhill of Seattle; son and daughter-in-law Ken and Bonnie Weisenburger and granddaughter Lorena and Syed Shah of Bellingham, great granddaughters, Amina and Anum Shah and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held for all of her friends and family in the spring when the flowers are blooming. The family wishes to thank the Brookdale Bellingham community and staff for their friendships and support for Mom this past year, St. Joseph's Hospital 4th floor staff and attending doctors for their compassionate care, and the Mount Baker Care Center for providing her with a peaceful ending to her life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund, C/O Chuckanut Health Foundation, PO Box 5641, Bellingham, WA 98227. Share your memories at www.westfordfuneralhome.com .