Obituary of Barbara Phalunas

Barbara "Babs" Richardson Phalunas, 87, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and child of God, died January 11 in Morgantown, WV with her son, Rick, at her side. A native of Woodbury, New Jersey, Babs was the eldest daughter of the late Myrtle Nelson and Norwood Richardson and the last surviving member of her birth family. She was a West Virginian by choice, electing to move away from her New Jersey roots a few years after the 1997 death of her husband Richard "Rich" Phalunas in order to be close to her son and family, especially her only grandchild, Caitlin Phalunas. Babs started first grade at the age of five at Walnut Street Grammar School in Woodbury. She enjoyed school and excelled academically. She was double-promoted one year and, as a result, graduated from Woodbury High School in 1942 at the age of 16. She then attended night school and worked in Philadelphia at the Curtis Publishing Company. A voracious reader from an early age, she devoted significant time to her church, roller skating, and musical interests. Notably, she played the Hawaiian guitar for a local radio station. Importantly, roller skating provided her with the introduction to her future husband. She married Richard Phalunas in 1949 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Pitman, NJ. They made their home in Woodbury Heights and then moved to Pitman. They were the proud parents of two children - Richard, Jr. and the late Janette P. Crocker. The family began spent summers at the Jersey shore in Strathmere, where they maintained a summer home for more than 35 years. Babs was devoted to her family and actively involved in numerous school, community, and church activities. She kept in regular contact with extended family, close friends, and a group of girls from her high school graduating class - known as the "Cat Club," who met monthly for over 55 years. She served her church as a Sunday School teacher, Altar Guild Member, and as secretary. While the children were in school, she worked in a Real Estate agency and was a licensed agent in New Jersey. The Village at Heritage Point became her West Virginia home in 2002. She made many wonderful friends there and participated in numerous activities. She attended both Trinity Episcopal Church and, most recently, Suncrest United Methodist Church. She participated in a Wednesday morning bible study group that was especially important to her; its members held a very special place in her heart. She is survived by her son Richard "Rick" W. Phalunas, Jr., daughter-in-law Julia Winnings Phalunas, and a granddaughter, Caitlin Brooke Phalunas, all of Morgantown. She is also survived by seven nieces and three nephews. A Memorial Service will be held in Morgantown at the Village at Heritage Point on Sunday, January 26 at 3 pm. The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated with inurnment at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Pitman, NJ on February 15 at 11 am. As an alternative to flowers, the family suggests that gifts be made to the West Virginia University Foundation, P. O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 for the Caitlin Brooke Phalunas Health Sciences Library Fund or the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.