OBITUARY: Elaine Brinton Phair

Elaine Brinton Phair, age 93, died on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City, Iowa.  At her request no Iowa City services will be held.  A graveside service will be conducted at 2 pm on Monday, July 1 at South Oak Grove Cemetery, Stuart, Iowa. Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 1116 Gilbert Court, Iowa City, IA 52240.

Elaine was born near Stuart, Iowa, on May 7, 1920, the daughter of Marion M. and Ada Brown Brinton.  She graduated from Stuart High School in 1938 and from Grand Island, NB, Business College in l940.  She was employed by Equitable Life Ins. Co. of Iowa, Des Moines, IA before entering the State University of Iowa in 1942, where she received the BSC degree, with honors, from The College of Commerce in 1945.  While attending the University of Iowa she met W. Philip Phair, a dental student from Limestone, ME.  They were married in Stuart, IA on August 27, 1944.

During World War II Elaine was a clerk at the U.S. Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA and at Hamilton Field, near San Francisco.  In 1947 Elaine and Philip moved to Ypsilanti, near Ann Arbor, MI where Elaine was a secretary at the Kaiser-Frazer automobile plant.  Later they lived in Seattle, WA for two years before locating in Glenview, IL in 1950.

Elaine enjoyed her role as wife, mother and homemaker as well as bookkeeper for her husband’s Glenview dental practice.  During their 18 years in Glenview she was an active member of school organizations and of their church where she served on the executive board and sang in the choir.

The family moved to Iowa City, IA in 1968.  Elaine was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Chapter JF, P.E.O., Beta Gamma Sigma, Iowa City Dental Wives and the University Club.  For several years she delivered meals from the Senior Center and she played in the New Horizon Band in its first four years.

In 1996 Elaine and Philip moved from their home on Hutchinson Ave. to the Oaknoll Retirement Residence.  Elaine felt blessed in so many ways and she was devoted to her beloved husband of 58 years, and to her family.  She treasured her many friends.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister, Eloise, and a younger sister and brother.  

Elaine is survived by two sons, Craig (Cindy) of New Brighton, MN, Paul (Beverly) of Tampa, FL, three grandchildren, Josh (Julie B) Phair of Scottsdale, AZ; Julie (Scott) Medley of Coconut Creek, FL; Eric (Kristin) Phair of Mounds View, MN; and two great-grandchildren, Brooke and Cole Medley of Coconut Creek, FL.

The family extends appreciation to the staff and residents of Oaknoll Retirement Residence where Elaine enjoyed living for nearly 18 years.

Online condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com