Kathleen Phillips 1943-2016
FFRF member Kathleen “Kitty” Lane Phillips, 72, died on Feb. 22, 2016, in the arms of her husband, best friend and soulmate of 47 years.
Kathleen was born May 17, 1943. She was residing in Virginia Beach, Va., but spent many happy years raising her family in Homewood, Ill. She went back to college and graduated from Christopher Newport University for a career teaching fourth-graders in the Hampton City School District. Always an adventurous spirit, she traveled to 49 states and 37 countries.
Besides her husband, Frederick G. Phillips, she is survived by her two children, Michael Shawn Phillips and wife Kate, and Kathleen Phillips Paul, Kathleen Paul and husband Kevin (all atheists), and two grandsons, Noah and Tyler Paul.
Her passions included racing sports cars, traveling the world on a sailboat, art history, music, fine wine and celebrating holiday traditions with her family.
She was raised as Methodist but gave that up when she was in her 50s and became a member of FFRF in her 60s. She enjoyed reading Freethought Today and had attended an FFRF convention in Raleigh, N.C.
James “Jim” G. Goble
1947-2015
FFRF member James “Jim” Goble, a longtime Denver resident, passed away in his home of more than 40 years on Dec. 3, 2015, after a terminal illness. He was 68. He was born July 26, 1947, in Woodward, Okla. His family settled in the Denver area in the 1950s, where Jim attended public schools. Jim was a true entrepreneur, being self-employed his entire career. He owned and operated Alert Answering Service in Denver for 30 years. Then he went into the drive-in theatre business and operated the Cinderella Drive-In Theatre in Englewood for 11 years, in addition to owning and operating the Starlite Drive-In Theatre in Wichita, Kan., for the last 17 years. Jim was a collector of vintage and retro memorabilia, and his house, yard and garage were filled with colorful objects and lights. Jim was much loved and will be missed by his friends, family and neighbors. He is survived by his brother Randall Goble of Denver, his partner Bart Cox of Denver, and his close friend of 45 years, Roger Acierno of Denver.
Arch Wakefield 1926-2016
FFRF member Arch Wakefield of Tega Cay, S.C., died Feb 24, 2016, at the age of 90.
Arch was born Jan. 24, 1926, in Charlotte and grew up there and in Columbia, S.C., and Gastonia, S.C. He was the only child of Arch Wakefield Sr. and Alicia Seawright Wakefield.
He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in chemical engineering, and then from the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in engineering. He also attended the University of Maine while in the U.S. Army in World War II, and received a certificate in civil engineering.
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, and his subsequent graduation from college, Arch worked for two years for the business founded by his father, the Wakefield Optical Company of Charlotte. He then worked three years for Carbide and Carbon Chemical Company and 30 years for The Celanese Fibers Company.
Arch is survived by his wife, Margery, and sons, John, Richard, Michael and Matthew, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His second son, William, preceded him in death. His first wife, Margie, and his second wife, Marianne, both preceded him in death.
Herbert B. Livingston 1917-2016
FFRF Lifetime Member Herbert B. Livingston of Santa Ana, Calif., died March 8, 2016, at the age of 99.
He married Rosetta Livingston on Sept. 14, 1941, and they remained married for 66 years until her death in 2008. Herb was a member of FFRF since January of 1979.
“Herb was a very early member, and one of FFRF’s first Lifetime Members, who attended several early FFRF functions, and was particularly well-known to the freethought community in Southern California, where he was active with Atheists United. His wife, Rosetta, preceded him in death and had also been a longtime supporter of FFRF. They are both missed,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.
