Erika Henny Frieda Heidemann Phillips Wilson

Our Beloved Mother, Best Friend, and Angel has let go of life on Earth to be by the side of Our Almighty God and her Personal Savior, Jesus Christ. Erika Frieda Henny Heidemann was born in Berlin Germany on April 29, 1928 and died Saturday, February 7, 2015. Her parents were Hermann Albert Heidemann and Henny Marie Emilie Wohlenberg. Her Father was a baker and skilled musician that played ever instrument and whose Jewish family was from Augerburg, East Prussia. Her Mother was seamstress and opera singer and who's Wohlenberg Royal Family traced their heritage to Sofia of Hanover, the Mother of the Kings of Europe. Erika was only 14 months old when her father Hermann died of Tuberculosis and raised by her Wohlenberg grandparents (Hermann Otto Wohlenberg & Frieda Schutlz). Erika enjoyed the family vacations on the Baltic Sea and the Wansee Water Park near Berlin. Erika was baptized in a small Berlin Lutheran Church near her Grandparents' house in 1942. This was a special moment in her life and never forgotten. She finished Business College in Accounting at Koenigsberg, East Prussia. Erika witnessed as a teenager the many horrors of World War ll in Germany and survived through many bombing raids of Berlin. She never forgot living as a refugee after the Normandy Invasion in 1944 and she was so surprised to find her home intact in Berlin after living many months on the road and in refugee camps. Erika married her American Soldier, Sargent First Class George Armour Phillips of the 16th Constabulary on October 2, 1948 at the McNair BKs Chapel in Berlin by United States Army Chaplain, Hugh W. Glenn. She set sail for America on a war bride ship, USS General Harry Taylor on October 29, 1948 from Bremerhaven, Germany and arrived at New York City, New York on November 8, 1948. Erika loved New York and Broadway which reminded her of Berlin before its destruction. They rode a bus from New Jersey to Rockport, Texas which began her life as an American. Her Family arrived in the Carlsbad area in 1959 next to the Radio Station on Radio Blvd and moved to Loving in 1962. Erika became an American Citizen on March 21, 1961 in Carlsbad, NM along with Teresa Lira, Plasido Esquibiel, and Mrs. Jaci Azevado Van Meter. This ceremony was officiated by Judge C. Roy Anderson in which she was so proud. She was working at the Electric Shop on Mermod Street during this special time. Buddy Utanis and Dick Desmond at the Electric Shop helped her begin her Accounting Career and encouraged her to become a citizen with the help of Senator Joseph Montoya. She later worked as an Accountant for the Nuns at St Francis Hospital, Floyd Shadtuck, Francis Beeman, Canon Accounting, and John Manganaro. Erika married Newt (Marvin E. Wilson) on May 5, 1972. Newt was her true love and Cowboy Dance Partner. The Old Melody Club and Scotty's in Roswell never saw a better dance couple. Dancing was her joy that she learned at Berlin Finishing Schools as a young child. Erika is survived by her son, John A Phillips of Carlsbad; her daughter Rose Mary Phillips Sanders of Rockport, Texas; her son Thomas R. Phillips of Carlsbad; her step daughter Judy Wilson Cox of Chama, NM; and step son Daryl Wilson of Lubbock, TX. She has 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great children. Also survived by her half-brother, Jobst Gerth of Munich, Germany and her half-sister Jutta Gerth Servadei of Milan Italy. Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A Graveside Service is scheduled for 2:00 PM, Friday, February 13, 2015 at Carlsbad Cemetery with Rev. David W. Rogers officiating. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Golden Services Hospice, 800 West Pierce St., Carlsbad NM 88220. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.