Menu
Rose Phillips Sluder
Rose Phillips Sluder (90 years young) of Fleming Island and previously from Jacksonville, Fla., and Emporia, Kan., peacefully passed through heaven's gates on Saturday, May 28 surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 49 years Harry Sluder, her parents Will and Ovoilette Phillips (Emporia, Kan.), brothers Ray and Bob Phillips and sister Beulah Spillman. She is survived by two beautiful and caring daughters, Sharon Williams (Joe) Port Orange, Fla., and Ovoilette Evon Holt (Scott) Fleming Island, Fla., her grandchildren Patrick Holt (Deborah) Kathleen, Ga., and Matthew Holt (Stephanie) Sasser, Ga., along with four great-grandchildren, Ruth, Breanna, Micah, and Jackson Holt. She is also survived by two younger sisters Alice Barrett and Marjorie Whitney, along with one brother, Lee Roy Phillips, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Rose was born on a farm in Emporia, Kan., and after graduating from school, she worked at Robe's Department Store and Hallmark Card Factory. She met the love of her life, Harry, and during WWII, while Harry was on leave, they got married. In 1957, they moved from Emporia, Kan., to Jacksonville, Fla., with one daughter. Rose was a homemaker raising two loving daughters and worked at Montgomery Wards and later at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and retired after 19 1/2 years as a customer service representative. She was a member of Lakeshore United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., and later joined the First United Methodist Church of Green Cove Springs. She was a member of The Women's Club of Orange Park and a fill in member of the neighborhood Fleming Island Bunco Club. She is a Lifetime Member of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 3282, Port Orange, Fla., and a Member of the Military Order of the Cooties Auxiliary, Pup Tent 75 (Honor Degree of VFW), and a Lifetime Member of the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, Mich.
Rose was a very energetic and independent woman, never able to sit idle. She took pleasure in helping others, especially our veterans. She enjoyed parties for any and all occasions, playing bingo, bunco, slot machines, cruising and traveling. She and her husband traveled to many destinations in the U.S. and made numerous trips to Europe, Great Britain, and Hong Kong. They had numerous friends in every place they lived and traveled; enjoying life to its fullest and always willing to help anyone in need. She will be missed by her loving family, her extended family of Eva Ehlert (Hong Kong) and Tom Reynolds (Mission Viejo, Calif.), along with numerous friends of many years.
The family will receive friends at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, 111 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, FL, Wednesday, June 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held, Thursday, June 2, at 2 p.m. at Jacksonville Memory Gardens and burial will be immediately following service. Flowers/plants are nice; however, if anyone desires, memorials may be made in her name to The Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 3282, 5810 S. Williamson Blvd., Port Orange, FL 32128 or to Haven Hospice at Custead Hospice Care Center, 745 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32065.