logo logo logo logo

Obituaries / Southampton Press / 2279935

Marian Culver Phillips of Westhampton Dies August 2

icon 1 Photo
Marian Culver Phillips

Marian Culver Phillips

authorStaff Writer on Aug 9, 2024

Marian Culver Phillips of Westhampton died peacefully of natural causes on August 2. She was 106.

Her remarkable life journey came to an end, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and a profound impact on countless lives, her family said.

She was born on October 12, 1917, and raised along with her five siblings and many cousins on Baycrest Avenue in Westhampton, also known as “Culver Town.” She was the last of the Culver Town kids from her generation.

She graduated from Westhampton Beach High School and pursued her passion for teaching by earning a degree in education at Geneseo College. In 1938, she began her illustrious career at the Quogue School, where she taught second grade for over 20 years.

She loved to read and write funny tales. She was especially proud of teaching her second-graders how to read, which was passed on to her great-grandchildren, with their annual trips to the book store. Her dedication to her students and her commitment to nurturing young minds left an indelible mark on the community.

In 1939, she married her high school sweetheart, Howard Phillips. Together, they built a loving family, raising three sons: Ward (Maureen, deceased) of West Virginia; Bruce (Elaine) of Westhampton; and John (Francie) of Westhampton. Her family continued to grow, blessing her with seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, all of whom brought immense happiness to her life. She was the guiding light for her family, providing wisdom, love, laughter, and unwavering support, her family said.

In addition, she had a generous spirit, which brought so much happiness and comfort to so many people. She took great joy in shopping and would find the perfect gift and somehow always spotted the latest trends, even before they were trends. This was particularly evident during the Christmas season, when she would shop for the Adopt-A-Family program, ensuring that less fortunate families could experience the magic and warmth of the holiday season.

Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and the many students whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Sunday, August 25, from 2–4 p.m., with a service at 3 p.m., at the Werner-Rothwell Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach.

You May Also Like:

Southampton Police Reports for the Week of November 27

WESTHAMPTON BEACH — Mark Green, 44, of Westhampton Beach, was arrested by Westhampton Beach Village Police on November 21 and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor. At approximately 3:13 p.m., police conducted a traffic stop on Rogers Avenue after observing a Mercedes-Benz operating without a front license plate. The driver, Green, exhibited signs of cannabis impairment, and officers observed a burned cannabis joint in the vehicle’s center console, police said. Field sobriety tests and advanced roadside impairment testing indicated impairment: Green was placed under arrest and transported back to police headquarters for processing and to await ... 27 Nov 2025 by Staff Writer

‘Good for Everyone’: ACCESSforALL Helps Arts Groups, Businesses Push Forward on Inclusion

In Brian O’Mahoney’s eyes, “disability” does not need to be an intimidating word. But for ... 26 Nov 2025 by Michelle Trauring

Community News, November 27

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Hampton Bays Fire Department Turkey Trot The Hampton Bays Fire Department will host ... by Staff Writer

School News, November 27, Southampton Town

Southampton Students Inducted Into National Honor Society Thirty Southampton High School students were recently inducted ... by Staff Writer

Gold Stars and Dunce Caps

⭐️ : To Cami Hatch, for reminding everyone why learning to swim and lifeguard training are important. The East Hampton graduate, now a University of Tennessee student, has been studying in Italy and was visiting Malta recently when she heard a fellow beachgoer whistling. “That whistle unlocked a new mode in my brain. For lifeguards, when you hear a whistle it means, ‘Heads up — get ready to go,’ as Big John and Johnny Ryan have instilled in us over the years,” she said, shouting out her lifeguard instructors. She dove in and saved a foundering Englishman, who was in ... by Editorial Board

Monday Traffic Snarls Implode Hopes for Improvements Along CR39

Traffic on Monday night in the Southampton region was snarled to an extent that, while ... by Michael Wright

New Shinnecock Curriculum Begins in Southampton Elementary Classrooms

Standing at the podium at a recent Southampton Board of Education meeting, ELA teacher Nature ... by Michelle Trauring

Yacht Hampton 'Boating Club' in Noyac Comes to Planning Board

The owner of a Noyac marina that has served as a hub for boat charters, ... by Michael Wright

'Bled by Our Side'

The combination of the new Ken Burns documentary on the American Revolution and the rosy image of the first Thanksgiving led me to recall a 1778 event that exemplifies the true relationship between the white settlers and the Indigenous population. And that relationship spread west as the settlers did. During the war, the Stockbridge Mohicans, along with the Oneida, Tuscarora and a handful of other Indigenous nations, allied with the American colonists in their struggle for independence from Britain. Many of these communities hoped that their military support would ensure recognition of their sovereignty and protection of their lands. Instead, ... by Tom Clavin

Another Chance

Will Governor Kathy Hochul sign, or again veto, a bill to protect horseshoe crabs that again passed by large majorities in the State Legislature earlier this year? Hochul vetoed the same bill last year. She claimed then that the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act was “well intentioned,” but their management should best be left with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. She said the DEC has “significant rules and regulations regarding commercial and recreational fishing in the state.” It currently has an annual quota of 150,000 horseshoe crabs that can be taken. Environmentalists have been actively calling on Hochul to sign ... by Karl Grossman