Barbara McGinnis Pheil, who sang soprano and was a retired preschool teacher, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease June 16 at Arden Courts in Ruxton. The Timonium resident was 77.
Born Barbara Ellen McGinnis in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Herbert Bosley McGinnis, a Koppers Co. employee, and the former Ethel Marie Woolen, a homemaker. She grew up in Edmondson Village and Catonsville and was a 1956 graduate of Western High School, where she sang at school functions. She earned an associate's degree in early childhood education from the Community College of Baltimore County.
She worked initially as a Baltimore Police Department secretary. She later taught preschool at the Havenwood Presbyterian Church for 20 years.
A soprano, Mrs. Pheil was a member of the Phoenix Choir, Candlelighters, Canticle Singers and the Jezic Singers. She was active in the Pumpkin Theater, Cockpit-in-Court, Phoenix Festival Theater, Friendship Players, Suburban Players, Young Victorian Theater Company, Comic Opera Company of Baltimore and the Towson Jaycee Wives.
She belonged to the Phi Theta Kappa, an honorary academic society.
A life celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Holy Comforter, 130 W. Seminary Ave. in Lutherville, where she was a choir member and soloist.
Survivors include her husband of nearly 46 years, William W. Pheil Sr., a retired Boys' Latin School teacher; a son, W. Walker Pheil Jr. of Arlington, Va.; and a daughter, Jennifer Pheil Otero of Timonium.