Velma Wray Phipps, 92, of Grinnell, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Grinnell United Methodist Church with burial at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. The service will be livestreamed through the Smith Funeral Home Facebook page. Following the burial there will be a luncheon at the Grinnell United Methodist Church in the Friendship Center. Beginning at 10:00 AM on the morning of the service, the family will receive friends at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be given to Grinnell United Methodist Church, St. Francis Manor Foundation, or to Care Initiatives Hospice. Gifts may be mailed to the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Velma Louise Wray was born in Grinnell, IA on November 12, 1929, the daughter of Laird M. and Esther (Ahrens) Wray. Velma was raised in Grinnell and attended Grinnell Community Schools. Just prior to her senior year in high school, she moved with her family to Ithaca, NY, where she graduated in 1947. Following graduation, she worked briefly for Cornell University before moving back to Grinnell where she worked in the law office of Tomasek and Vogel.

On May 19, 1951, Velma married Carlyle Phipps at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. The couple moved to a farm in rural Grinnell where they raised their family. After operating the grain and livestock farm, they moved to Grinnell in 1979. Velma returned to work providing administrative support at the firm of Tomasek, Vogel and Charnetski until her retirement.

Velma was a faithful follower of Christ. She was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church where she volunteered in many activities. She was an active member of Church Woman United and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Velma was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, knitting slippers for her family, gardening, and watching the birds that frequented her feeders. She was famous for her chocolate pie and chocolate chip cookies.

Survivors include her children, David (Mary) Phipps of St. Cloud MN, Diane (Michael) Burk of Edina, MN, and Steven (Debbie) Phipps of Waukee, IA; nine grandchildren, Andrew (Wendi) Phipps, Sarah (Brian) Sills, Samuel (Julia Franz) Phipps, Daniel Phipps, Emma Phipps, Audra (Jeremy) Vann, Adam Burk, Aaron (Jaimie) Burk and Tanner Hathaway; ten great-grandchildren; and one brother, Larry (Jo) Wray. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carlyle Phipps; daughter, Nancy Lynn Phipps; great-granddaughter in infancy, Hope Maxine Phipps, and brother in infancy, Laird Donald Wray.