Thelma W. (Watts) Phoenix

Thelma W. (Watts) Phoenix, 93, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2014 at Celtic Hospice, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.

Born in Philadelphia on June 12, 1921, she was a daughter of the late Herbert and Callie (Foster) Watts.  She was a graduate of G.A.R. High School and afterwards graduated from beauty school.

Thelma was a member of Firwood United Methodist Church, Wilkes-Barre.  She was very active in the N.A.A.C.P and the Negro Community League.  She was a former board member and vice president of the Y.W.C.A where she was the Y Teen Program chairwoman.  She was also a former Girl Scout Leader.  In 1985, she was honored with the Women in Community Service Award. She was the owner of Thelma’s Beauty Shop and later retired from Keystone Job Corps Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold J. Phoenix, who passed away November 24, 2008; her son, Harold H. Phoenix, who passed away in 2006; and a brother, Herbert Watts, Jr.

Surviving is her daughter-in-law, Karen Phoenix, Wilkes-Barre; grandchildren Calandra and Kendra Phoenix; sisters-in-law, Harriet Butler, Clearwater, FL and Cecilia Phoenix, Wilkes-Barre.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Kniffen O’Malley Funeral Home, 465 S. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, with the Reverend Paul Amara officiating.  Friends may call Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

A committal service will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m. in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hanover Township.  Anyone wishing to attend is asked to meet at the cemetery chapel at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Celtic Hospice, 601 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, PA 18704.

Condolences may be sent at Kniffenfuneralhome.com