Phyllis Claire Whitmore

She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Whitmore and her husband Phil Conrad with their daughter, her son Mark Whitmore and his wife Dorothy (Brown) Whitmore with their two children and three grandchildren, son-in-law David Hume with their two daughters and families, as well as two nieces and their families. She was predeceased by husband Wilbur Whitmore and daughter Wendy (Whitmore) Hume.

Phyllis was born to Judith (Antonson) and Henry Dickinson in Duluth, Minnesota in 1932. She moved about the country with her mother and older sister, following her father, a naval petty officer. After graduating from Duluth Central High School in 1950 she moved with her parents to Los Angeles, graduating from Pepperdine College in 1954 with a degree in social work. During college she spent two summers working at Yellowstone Lodge. In Wichita, KS she worked with young girls at the YWCA. There she met and married Wilbur Whitmore, a young airman. Upon his discharge, the couple moved to Columbia Heights, MN, and then Fridley, MN where they raised three children. Phyllis was active in the PTA, League of Women Voters, and Girl Scouts.

After her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in his 50s, they moved to Bella Vista, AR. Later, they made two more move to Loudon, TN and Dayton, OH to be near their oldest daughter. Phyllis cared for her husband until his death in 2010. She enjoyed biking, gardening, bridge, reading, and mission work.

Her family thank her friends and staff at Bethany Village, Parkview Church of the Nazarene, and Ohio Hospice of Dayton.

Visitation will be held at 10am, September 23, with services at 11am at Parkview Church of the Nazarene (4701 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429). Phyllis will be buried with her husband in the Dayton National Cemetery on October 2 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association and to Parkview Church of the Nazarene.