Obit of London, Laura Evalyn (Phillips) - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 5 Dec 2004 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== London, Laura Evalyn (Phillips) Laura Evalyn (Phillips) London, 89, died September 11, 2002 at Baptist Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City after a brief illness. She was born July 29, 1913 in Yukon, Oklahoma, the daughter of Hunter Alexander Phillips and Marion Katherine Mitchell. She was the second of four children and the last to survive. She had three dear brothers: Wendell Wayne, Howard Keith, and Gordon Leigh Phillips. The Phillips family came into the Oklahoma Territory in 1888 and her father was born in the Oklahoma panhandle that year. Her grandfather, James Wesley Phillips made the famous Oklahoma Land Run of April 22, 1889 (an '89er'). This pioneer family had migrated into Oklahoma from central Missouri. Her mother's Mitchell family had come into Oklahoma in 1900 from Illinois. Both families settled around the Yukon - Okarche, Oklahoma locale. Mrs. London was a descendant of American colonists and pioneers of the mid 1700's who immigrated from North Carolina and Kentucky, and Pennsylvania and Ohio, finally coming to Oklahoma. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution with her Mitchell ancestor serving in the Pennsylvania Militia in 1778. Mrs. London also had a Phillips ancestor who served from Kentucky in the War of 1812. Her youngest brother, Gordon Phillips, served as a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, during the invasion of Normandy, France in World War II; he was killed in battle there July of 1944. Raised on her parent's family farm during early Oklahoma statehood, she graduated from Geary High School in 1931 and attended business school in Oklahoma City. She was in business in the city for several years prior to marriage. On June 2, 1935, she married the love of her life, Harry Riles (Jack) London at First Christian Church (FCC), in Geary, Oklahoma. She took easily to married life and was wife and homemaker for the husband, and mother to her two sons born in 1937 and 1941. She was active in the First Christian Church in the choir and in the Keystone Sunday School Class. One of the high points of their church life was, with her husband, Jack, being awarded the Vera Stovell Award for 'demonstrating faithful commitment to the ministry'. Mrs. London enjoyed music, arts and crafts, and was an outstanding cook. She was active in community affairs and supported her children through roles as President of Parent Teacher Associations and their sports programs. In the 1960's, Mrs. London was co- proprietor of the London-Rule Personnel Agency, a quite successful job placement company in the city. In the 1970's and early 80's, Mrs. London joined her husband in operating London Carpets and Interiors, until Mr. and Mrs. London retired in 1984. She loved gardening and homemaking, and entertaining family and friends at her home in northwest Oklahoma City. The family loved its summer vacation trips around America and Evalyn loved to keep the family together in all of its activities. Laura Evalyn London is survived by her two sons, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and two step grandchildren. First son, Captain J. Phillip London, U.S. Navy Reserve (Ret) of Washington, D.C. and his wife Anna Maria, and former wife and friend Margo W. London; grandson J. Phillip London, Jr., and his wife Jennifer Davis, also of Washington, D.C., and granddaughter Laura McLain London of San Francisco, California. Second son, Mr. Gary Errol London and his wife, Elizabeth Anne of Oklahoma City, and their children, Lauren Elizabeth London and Hunter Alexander London, also of Oklahoma City; and Gary's son (Mrs. London's grandson) John Gregory (London) Hale, Mrs. London's great grandchildren (J. Phillip's grandchildren) are Evan McLain London and Andrew Davis London; Gary Errol's grandchildren are Caroline Miller Hale, John Cameron Hale, and Bridget Anne Hale. Her two step grandchildren, of Anna Maria, are Elizabeth Cara Francik and William Brian Francik, Jr. Mrs. London also has many dear neices and nephews with their descendents who survived her. Laura Evalyn London was loved and adored by all her family and she will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Loving gifts in honor and celebration of Evalyn's life may be made to First Christian Church Cathedral Choir and Keystone Sunday School class. In memory of their parents and all of the London Family, the brothers along with their lifelong friend and family minister, the Reverend Don A. Alexander, dedicated 'The London Bells' (carillon) of the First Christian Church at 36th and Walker Avenue. The carillon was donated and installed during the spring and summer of 2002; the formal dedication ceremony will take place Sunday, September 15, 10:30 a.m. Mr. London passed away September 28, 2000. For their mother and grandmother, the family will receive guests at the funeral home on Friday, Sept. 13, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 1:00 p.m., at the First Christian Church with interment following at Memorial Park Cemetery. Published in the Oklahoman from 9/13/2002 - 9/14/2002. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html