Phyllis Ann Sullivan

PHYLLIS ANN SULLIVAN, a resident of Westminster at Lake Ridge, Virginia, died peacefully on July 23, 2023, at age 96. Born and raised in Mineola, New York, Phyllis later graduated from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and married Robert Putman Jr. As a Navy wife, her home bases included Norfolk, Virginia, Newfoundland, Canada, and Rota, Spain, before settling in Northern Virginia.

Phyllis had a distinguished teaching career of 25 years, most spent at Robinson Secondary School where she was head of the social studies department. She loved music and sports, including golf and her beloved Washington Nationals. For many years she sang in the choir at Annandale United Methodist Church and later at Burke United Methodist Church. But her happiest place was on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where she began a time-honored tradition of family vacations in the 1970s.

Most of all, Phyllis loved being with family and was a guiding light as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. After her second marriage, to William G. Sullivan, her blended family blossomed into a lively chapter of holidays, celebrations, and beach vacations. In her final years, she would often say, “All I need is my family.”

Phyllis was predeceased by her son Douglas Putman and husband William G. Sullivan and is survived by two daughters, Deborah Putman and Susan Fourney (Gary), two stepsons, Michael Sullivan and William D. Sullivan (Mary), seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday September 30, 2023 at Burke United Methodist Church.