Henrietta “Boots” Delph
28 January 1928 – 5 November 2015
Henrietta “Boots” Delph, 87, of Colorado Springs passed away peacefully at her home on 5 November 2015. She was preceded in death by her brother Neil in 1949, her eldest daughter Rebecca “Becky” in 1983, and her husband of more than 50 years, Robert “Bob” Delph in 2000. She is survived by her daughter Barbara Delph, a retired Colorado Springs police Sergeant, and two grandsons, LTC Jason Kniffen, a US Army officer currently serving in Saudi Arabia, and Jeremy Kniffen, a retired Colorado Springs police officer. She also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Jacob Robert (15) and McKenzie Rebecca (6).
Born Henrietta Clara Phillips in Atlanta, Texas on 28 January 1928 she was raised by her large McKeehan family in East Texas. In 1947 she met her future husband, a serviceman, in Dallas, Texas and soon moved to Hawaii to be married. From Hawaii they continued living the military life around the world to include Washington, Kansas, and Italy before retiring in Colorado Springs in 1964.
A natural giver, Boots donated regularly to a multitude of charities throughout the year and ensured her family had what they needed and would not hesitate to assist when asked. An avid gardener, she could give life to plants and flowers even under the most difficult conditions. She was seen on many summer afternoons under a wide-brim hat with a large kitchen knife in hand pulling weeds from the yard or tending to her rose garden behind the house. And when her work was done, she would often spend the afternoons sitting on the front porch enjoying the breeze before the rains came or watching baseball or football. She lived her life to the fullest and surrounded herself with the things she loved: family, flowers and pets.
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2015 at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 E. Fountain Boulevard. Following the service, she will be laid to rest with family at the same location.