Phyllis J. Orbaugh

Phyllis Orbaugh died peacefully at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 28, 2019. Phyllis was born in 1938 in Clay City, Illinois to Raymond Mize Jones and Viola Alexine Hurst, but the family soon returned to their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma where Phyllis attended Central High School, graduating in 1956. She married Tulsa native Harry Orbaugh that year and they remained married until his death in 2004, living and working in Tulsa; Duluth, Minnesota; Oklahoma City; Shreveport, Louisiana; and finally Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they both were employed by Holy Faith Episcopal Church.

Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brother Warren Jones, and her nephew Brent DeCoste. She is survived by her partner of ten years Harold Bergsohn; her children John Watkins, Sharalyn Orbaugh, Kathalyn Noonan, and Marcus Orbaugh; her granddaughter, Sara Lyn Merrion; sister Sharon DeCoste, sister-in-law Kathy Taylor Jones; numerous nieces and nephews; and Phyllis and Harry’s exchange student daughters, Tatiana Sokolokova, and Ryoko Tamaki DeCoste. Phyllis often expressed gratitude for her loving family.

In the various cities where she lived, Phyllis worked for the Episcopal church in the capacities of administrator, music director, and organist. In 2000, she was ordained as a deacon. She was passionate about music, having grown up playing piano duets with her sister and brother. She cared deeply about the care and nurturing of children, and developed a number of church programs aimed at children and families. She loved arts and crafts and was skilled at knitting, crocheting, sewing, and quilt-making. Every house she lived in had a beautiful garden and many indoor plants, thanks to her green thumb.

Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010