Place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was born January 30, 1929 to a single
mother and was placed in the Kansas Children’s Home. She was adopted by William
R. and H. Grace Austin from Mound City, Kansas where she grew up. She loved being
a tomboy and earned the nickname “Touchdown Fanny” from the other kids. At the age
of eight, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized in the Little Sugar
Creek. After graduating from high school, Phyllis boarded a train for Omaha, Nebraska
where she attended a trade college. She started out training to be an air traffic
controller, which lasted a day or two before she realized that was a mistake. She then
switched to clerical studies. After her training, she went back to Mound City and
began working in the Linn County Courthouse. A year later, per her father’s wishes,
she went to Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. She majored in music and was a
soloist in the Concert Choir. There she met Charlie Angell, and did what she said she
would never do: she married a Western Kansas Wheat farmer on September 18, 1949.
Due to the demands of farming and uncooperative weather, their honeymoon was
delayed due to the need for Charlie to plant wheat. Phyllis and Charlie made their
home in Plains, Kansas. Phyllis was active in the Plains Baptist Church playing the
piano, the organ, singing in the choir, and she often sang solos. She was also a
member of the Baptist Women’s Missionary Society, the Amity Club and then the Study
Club of Plains. From 1973-1985, Charlie served in the Kansas State Senate. Phyllis
became active in the Legislative Wives and was president for one year. During this
time, Phyllis began researching her birth family. It was not until about 13 years ago that
she had the opportunity to meet some members of her birth family. In 1985, Charlie
and Phyllis moved to Colorado Springs. Some of their favorite pastimes were to take
mountain drives, go to movies, and play Rook. Phyllis was a member of Vista Grande
Baptist Church. Phyllis enjoyed needlepoint and other hobbies, but her favorite by far
was playing the piano. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Homer
Vernon Austin; her husband of 64 years, Charlie L. Angell. She is survived by a son,
Roger (Julia) Angell of Plains, Kansas; a daughter, Pamela (Wallace) Larson of Colorado
Springs, Colorado; grandchildren: Lindsey (Henry) Wiebe, Eric Larson, Krista (Lantz)
Casey, Austin (Kylee) Angell, Marissa (Mike) Doll; great grandchildren: Carson Wiebe,
Eleanor Angell, and Guinevere Angell. Per the wishes of Phyllis, there will be a
visitation time at Swan-Law Funeral Home on May 30 from 6-8 p.m. followed by a
graveside service at Plains Cemetery in Plains, Kansas on Saturday, June 1st at 10:00
a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Plains Baptist
Church. Memorial gifts may be made to the Vista Grande Baptist Church Music
program or to the Plains Baptist Church.
