(405) 722-5262
buchananfuneral@gmail.com
8712 N Council Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73132

Esta Marie Phipps April 15, 1920 - November 30, 2021

Esta Marie Phipps transitioned to her heavenly home on Tuesday, November 30, at the age of 101.
Esta loved Jesus and reflected His Love by lighting up any room and conversation with joy. She had a beautiful quality of making everyone feel special, important, and loved.
Esta was born on April 15, 1920 to H. H. Isham and Lora Marie Bettis Isham in Blair, Oklahoma. She graduated from high school in Altus and moved to Oklahoma City, where she attended business college. 
Esta served five Oklahoma governors as Assistant Secretary of State. In addition to her work in the Capitol, she helped her husband, E.L. “Bill” Phipps, establish the Phipps Appliance Centers and also became a stockbroker. After retiring, she volunteered as a docent at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for over 25 years where she loved talking with people from all walks of life and sharing the treasures of her native Oklahoma. 
Esta was a member of Northwest Baptist Church for 74 years and worked with youth most of her adult life until she was 90 years old. Her joy and loving presence positively impacted many people.
Esta delighted people with jokes, and she made anything fun. She was an avid card player who loved playing bridge, gin, spades, Skip Bo, and most any other game she could find. She delighted in winning and frustrated her opponents right to the end of her long life. She was also a skilled Ms Pac Man player, beating players half her age at the height of the arcade craze in the 1980’s.
Esta was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Mabel Hawkins, Nettie Harding, and Virgie Biddy, her first husband George Campbell, who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, her husband, E. L. Bill Phipps, her daughter Sally Marie Phipps, and her grandson, Jonathan Christopher Phipps. She is survived by daughter Peggy Lee, son Jack Tilden and wife Kim, grandsons Travis, Troy, and his wife Carlyn, great grandchildren Brennen and Riley, Caleb and Zeke, and many nieces and nephews.

We’re grateful for the many years we lived and laughed with Esta. Join us to celebrate Esta and a life well lived at the memorial service on Tuesday, December 7 at Northwest Baptist Church at 2:00pm. We respectfully request that all people attending wear masks. Viewing is Monday, December 6 at Buchanan Funeral Home, 8712 N Council Road at 1:00 to 8:00pm.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Esta’s favorite organizations such as the OKC Food Bank, Face-to-Face Empowering Youth, Northwest Baptist Church, or a nonprofit of your choice.

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