Celebrating Centenarians

This is one story in an occasional series profiling some of LW’s most long-lived residents, those who have reached the enviable age of 100 years or more. The series is running in connection with the Golden Age Foundation centenarian event held April 20. In most cases, a family member or friend has written the stories.

by Roland Phillips

special to the LW Weekly

Lyndell Phillips was born on Aug. 20,1922, in Clarksville, Arkansas. She was raised in Russelville, the daughter of a coal miner.

She traveled to California as a young lady in 1940 and settled in San Pedro working as a long distance telephone operator.

During World War II, she worked at Fort MacArthur and handled all military calls.

In 1942, she married Clifford Phillips. In 1949, the couple moved to Long Beach, where they raised three children. Lynn also has three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Lynn went back to work in 1970 and was the switchboard operator at Walkers Department store at Fourth and Pine streets in downtown Long Beach until they went out of business. She worked as the switchboard operator at Buffum’s on Broadway. When Buffum’s moved into the new Long Beach Mall, she moved with the company, working there until Buffum’s closed.

She has been a LW resident since March 1988 after the passing of her husband of 45 years. She loved Whirlers square dancing and was on the women’s bowling league.

Lynn could not stay away from a switchboard and was the switchboard operator at the Health Care Center for 20 years, receiving several employee awards. She handed over her headset in 2009 but continued volunteer work at the LW Library and Health Care Center until 2013.

She is avid sports lover no matter what is on the TV, but her passion is baseball, especially the Dodgers. She tries to never miss a game.

Happy birthday to Lyndell Phillips!