Obituary of Phoebe Ann English

Phoebe Ann English died June 28, 2023 at the age of 81. She was born Phoebe Ann Herbert in New York City on July 19, 1941 and raised in Lawrence, MA. She graduated Lawrence High School in 1958 and worked as a telephone switchboard operator prior to getting married in 1962 to her pen pal (John) from California.

Phoebe and John eventually settled in Simi Valley, CA where she gave birth to one boy in 1966 and triplets (one boy, two girls) in 1968. Sadly, they lost one of the triplet girls (Sally Ann) to SIDS at five months. Together with John, Phoebe raised their three remaining children and acted as second mother to many neighborhood children.

John earned his amateur radio license in 1976. Phoebe earned her amateur radio license (WD6EZY) in 1978 “so she could defend herself on the radio”, as she liked to put it, and would go on to earn a higher class license than John. They were members of the (San Fernando) Valley Good Guys and Simi Settlers amateur radio clubs.

Phoebe and John were huge baseball fans and members of the Los Angeles Dodgers Booster Club for many years, attending up to 20 Dodgers games a year, including a World Series game in 1988.

Phoebe was very active at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, serving many support & council roles, most prominently as church secretary for many years. Phoebe retired from her church duties in 2003 when she and John moved to Albuquerque, NM and joined St. Luke Lutheran Church.

Having crewed for hot air balloons, including The Traveling Toy & Aeolos, at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta off and on over the years, the effects of aging would force her to retire from that as well. Phoebe remained a fan of hot air balloons, and of baseball, attending many Albuquerque Isotopes games each year.

The move to Albuquerque was hard on Phoebe as “Nana” missed being able hold her grandchildren. Equally hard was losing their oldest child, Eric, to lung cancer in 2007.

In September 2022, Phoebe and John celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary. In March 2023, they flew to California for the 1^st & 3^rd birthday of their great-grandchildren, who were born on same date two years apart.

In June 2023, Phoebe was diagnosed with multiple masses in her cranial cavity pushing on her brain. Surgery to remove the largest mass was performed but unable to extend her life. Phoebe passed away on June 28, 2023 at Presbyterian Downtown Hospital surrounded by family. She is survived by her husband John, son William, daughter Susan, Susan’s husband Bill, daughter-in-law Sarah, seven grandchildren (Gloriana, Jessica, Bill Jr., Ashley, Hunter, Sallianne, & Kaitlyn), three great-grandchildren (Alice, Oswald, & one still on the way), and her sister Else.

Phoebe is now in a better place, holding her oldest (Eric) and her youngest (Sally Ann). We will rejoin them one day. Until then, she will be missed, daily. No formal memorial service is planned, just a small informal family gathering at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to the charity of your choice.

One other thing. Hug those close to you and let them know you love them.

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