Cynthia Gross Phillips passed away in Orlando, FL on December 26, 2023 after a brief illness.
She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Dennis Wayne Phillips, her son Clayton Wyatt Phillips of Orlando, FL, daughter Holly Phillips-Harrington and husband Tom of Vero Beach, FL and daughter Sara Elizabeth Phillips of Orlando, FL. Cindy is also survived by her sister, Carolyn Gross-Edmunds and husband Robert Edmunds of Conway, SC, a nephew John David Herndon and wife Paige of Radford, VA, one great niece and one great nephew also of Radford.
She was born to Margaret Nelson Gross and William Samuel Gross, in Pulaski, VA on July 25, 1942. Cindy was a 1960 Pulaski High School graduate. Following High School, she attended Sue Bennett Junior College in London, KY for two years and finished her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Eastern Kentucky State University in Richmond, KY. She taught school for three years in northern Kentucky and then moved to Roanoke, VA where she taught at Mount Pleasant Elementary School. While living in Roanoke, VA she met her husband, Dennis, when he worked at WPVR Radio and WDBJ TV. They were married in June of 1972 and moved to Charlotte, NC.
In 1975 Cindy and Dennis moved to Orlando, FL where they founded a costume retail and manufacturing business, Allied Costumes. In 2009 they sold their business and retired to Harrisonburg, VA to be nearer to family. In 2014 Cindy and Dennis returned to Orlando. Over the 51 years they were married, they enjoyed their family and traveling. Cindy taught Sunday School and was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Cindy and Dennis were ballroom dancers and Cindy assisted Dennis in his magic stage show.