Kathryn Phillips Sanders

Kathryn Marie Phillips Sanders, passed away in the morning of August 14, 2022, at age of 92. She was born on February 24, 1930, to Cecil Purdy and Elma Riggan Phillips in Leola, Arkansas. She grew up in Hot Springs and graduated from Hot Springs High School as salutatorian in the class of 1948. During her high school years, she was selected as part of the court for participation in the 1946 dedication of the Hot Springs Airport. After graduation, she worked as secretary to Dr. O. L. Bayless, pastor of 2nd Baptist Church. She married Bill R. Sanders in January 1949 at 2nd Baptist Church and in 1950 she became secretary to Dave Burgauer at the Arkansas Trust Co., Hot Springs. After her husband joined the US Air Force, she joined him, living in various places where he was stationed. One of her favorite places was Anchorage, Alaska, where she found a job with the C. C. A. (now the F. A. A.). While stationed in Anchorage, they experienced a volcano eruption and several earthquakes. Kathryn was quite the descriptive writer of letters to her family back home. When they returned to Hot Springs in 1956, she was devoted to making a home for her family. She was so proud of her son and daughter and was creative in making things for her children’s enjoyment. She also loved to read, especially poetry, enjoyed making quilts for family and friends, and later in her life loved to travel with various family members. When her granddaughter came along, she especially love playing with her, sitting at piano and singing together, playing with paper dolls, building doll houses and they even went on a cruise together. Kathryn later went back to work for the Social Security Administration, Hot Springs, and then the U. S. Forest Service, Jessieville District, where she retired in 1991. Using her creative writing skills again, Kathryn submitted articles to the Garland County Historical Society which were published in THE RECORD, one in 2009, one in 2014. She was a long-time member of Park Place Baptist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Friends of the Garland County Library. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Angela Kay Sanders, her sister, Mary Sue Harris, and nephew, John F. Harris. She is survived by her son, Gary (Kay), granddaughter, Kristi Forthman (Joe), great-grandsons, Landon Kitt and Braydon Kitt, a sister, Cecilia Duren (Don), niece Kimberly Senteney (Alden), nephews Fred W. Harris (Terris Ann), Daniel Duren (Cindy), and 11 great-nieces and great-nephews and their children. She also leaves behind several cousins and very special neighbors. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 20th at Hot Springs Funeral Home with Pastor Wayne Murphree officiating. In lieu of flowers, she requested donations be given to the Friends of the Garland County Library or The Garland County Humane Society. She once said she received a lot of joy from books and pets!

Kathryn Phillips Sanders

February 24, 1930 - August 14, 2022