This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Marcia Ruth (Mletschnig) Phillips, 75, of Captain’s Drive, Pilot’s Point, Westbrook, passed away Oct. 15 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of George Phillips.

Marcia grew up at Hawk’s Nest in Old Lyme. During her high school years she studied and taught ballet. After graduating from Lyme-Old Lyme High School, she moved to New York City where she joined George Balanchine, the father of American ballet, and the New York City Ballet. She also worked at ABC Television in New York City where she met George. When she retired from ABC, she followed her love for the fine arts and became an accomplished impressionistic artist. She displayed her paintings locally at the Greene Gallery in Guilford and in southern France.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her stepsons and their wives, William and Susan Phillips of Monterey, California, and Richard and Cindy Phillips of Fall River, Massachusetts; step-grandchildren Thomas Phillips, Erin Phamvan, and Zachariah Phillips; and a brother and his wife, Peter and Joyce Mletschnig of Old Lyme, and their children Kevin Simonds, Diane Wilson, and John Mletschnig. She was predeceased by her parents Frederick and Dorothy Mletschnig.

A graveside memorial service is planned for the spring, May 11, 11 a.m. at the Duck River Cemetery in Old Lyme.