Noel Phipps, 1946-2026

Born in Oregon to a diplomatic family, Noel spent much of his youth outside the US but returned to graduate from Stanford University and serve in the US Navy.  While working in the mental health field, he began acting with theater companies in the San Francisco Bay area, earning an MA in Theater from San Francisco State University and becoming a member of Actors' Equity Association, the union representing professional actors and stage managers.  After his marriage to Mary Waters, who survives him, he gained a teaching certificate and changed fields to teaching, primarily in English and special needs classrooms in the Bay Area, Mainz Germany, Philadelphia, and then Wichita Kansas, where he and Mary have lived for many years.  Noel died after a relatively short struggle with cancer.  Besides his spouse, he is survived by a sister, Peggy Kern, her spouse and two daughters with their families, and a sister-in-law, Neila Waters.

No formal service will be held, but anyone wishing to offer remembrance might consider donations to Actors' Equity Foundation (https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/actorsequityfoundation?code=website), Planned Parenthood (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-involved/other-ways-give), a cause to which Noel was devoted, or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita (https://www.hynesmemorial.org/ways-to-donate/), who gave him caring support in his last days.

Arrangements are by Affordable Cremations Plus, Wichita, Ks.