Born April 15, 1917, Stowe Catlin Phelps died peacefully at home on December 24, 2013. He had lived “Many Very Good Years”, to quote the title of his memoirs. On June 24, 1944 he married Charlton Yarnall Jacobs of Philadelphia. They had two daughters: Sophia Yarnall Payne of Fort Worth, TX and Meredith Phelps Rugg of New York City.
Stowe had a varied, creative career that included acting on Broadway, working at CBS television and writing and producing documentary films. He spent many years on the Board of the Third Street Music School Settlement and was an active member of The Century Association. Music was central to his life and he was the oldest living Whiffenpoof. He loved golf and enjoyed his many years as a U.S. Senior. His family was all important to him and in addition to his wife and two daughters he is survived by his son-in-law Peter Rugg, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Third Street Music School Settlement, 235 E. 11th St, New York, NY 10003 or The Fishers Island Sea Stretcher, c/o FIFD Box 222, Fishers Island, NY 06390 or The Century Association Foundation, 7 West 43rd St, New York, NY 10036. There will be a memorial service soon in 2014.
Published in The New York Times on December 26, 2013
Note: A Memorial Service for Stowe Phelps will be held Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 11:00 am at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Fishers Island.
