Phyllis A. Bodine

Faith and family were the cornerstones for which Phyllis Bodine lived. Raised from frugal beginnings, Phyllis knew her share of heartache, but she came to lead a full and rewarding life surrounded by those she held most dear. Ever loving and dedicated, Phyllis heart knew no bounds. Although deeply missed, the memories she leaves behind will continue to be treasured by those who knew and loved her.

By 1929, the days of the flapper and the infamous Roaring Twenties gave way to hard economic times. Just merely the beginning, the Great Depression was officially launched in a country that had seen much growth and prosperity. Despite these troubling times, Charles M. Wiseman, Sr. and Ruby L. (Knotts) Wiseman of Toledo, Ohio found much to be thankful for when on July 27, 1929 they celebrated the birth of their little girl, Phyllis.

One of eventually eight children, Phyllis enjoyed a childhood typical of her generation. Times were lean during the Great Depression, and there were times when it was difficult to make ends meet with such a large, bustling household. Even so, Phyllis and her family came through these days ever stronger. Phyllis played the accordion and guitar as a child and paled around with neighborhood friends. Fond memories were cherished by Phyllis and her siblings every summer when they traveled south to their aunts farmhouse in Bellefontaine, Ohio where they loved playing in the barns.

Phyllis attended the area schools, but when her mother sadly died when Phyllis was 15 years old, life as Phyllis knew it was never quite the same. She and her sister, Betty looked after their household and helped raise their younger siblings. When their father remarried, Phyllis moved in with Betty and rode the Greyhound bus back and forth to Monroe until her graduation from Monroe High School with the Class of 1947.

In Monroe, Phyllis met a handsome young man named Lowell B. Bodine at Maybee Congregational Church. They began dating and before long they found themselves deeply in love. A year after graduating, Phyllis happily married her one and only on June 12, 1948. During the time Lowell served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Phyllis lived with his parents until his eventual return home.

Upon her husbands honorable discharge from the service, Lowell returned to Phyllis awaiting arms. He went on to build their home in Maybee from supplies he ordered from a catalog company that sold home building kits which were quite popular at the time. Together they made their house a home which came to include two wonderful children, Barbara and David.

As a mother, Phyllis was attentive to her children and their many activities. She made a good home for Lowell and the kids, and filled it with love. She loved entertaining her children and their many friends through the years. For their birthday parties, Phyllis tried making the occasion extra special and one to remember. She always made homemade pizza from a Chef Boyardee pizza kit which was something everyone looked forward to. Phyllis also enjoyed hosting memorable Halloween parties and fun-filled church youth group events at her home.

Phyllis and Lowell had the leisure of traveling through the years. Her husband earned trips working for an insurance company that at one time afforded them a memorable trip to Spain. Phyllis and her family also went on numerous camping trips over the years. They started out camping in tents that eventually evolved to a large camper. Having a camper offered Phyllis and her family the opportunity to camp together at Lake James in Angola, Indiana. They truly loved the area and all it had to offer, and soon purchased lake property of their own for summer visits.

Along with raising her family, Phyllis also worked outside the home. For 11 years she worked in Monroe at the Lazy Boy Chair Company before retiring in April of 1988. In their retirement, Phyllis and Lowell sold their home in Maybee and moved to their lake house in Angola. With their children grown with lives of their own, Phyllis faithfully kept in touch with her family with phones calls and loved having them at the lake on the weekends. Phyllis husband was known for grilling out, but Phyllis was known for her delicious mayonnaise cakes and potato salad that everyone loved.

Phyllis was a great knitter and even taught knitting classes through the local 4-H program. She made many beautiful items and often gave them as gifts including gorgeous afghans, cozy socks and knit slippers. She enjoyed many types of crafts, and as an avid reader, she especially liked romance novels.

In 2009, Phyllis and Lowell made Whitley County their home. When Phyllis beloved Lowell passed away in January of 2012, it was indeed a difficult time for her. Once again, life as Phyllis knew it was forever changed. For the last three years, Phyllis was lovingly cared for at the home of her daughter. While Barbara would prepare for the following work day, Phyllis would pack her work lunch to take along to her dialysis treatment, which she bravely endured three times a week for three years. After courageously making the decision to end treatment, Phyllis spent the last week of her life in Hospice at the Renaissance Village in Fort Wayne.

Phyllis Bodine was an easy woman to love. Her family was her greatest joy, and in them she found much happiness. A devoted wife, dedicated mother and grandmother, and dear sister and friend, the heart of Phyllis lives on in the memories she lovingly leaves behind.

Phyllis A. Bodine, 86, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Renaissance Village in Fort Wayne. Survivors include her daughter, Barbara (Steve) Gross of Columbia City; son, David Bodine of Grayling, MI; sister, Shirley Barron of Newport, MI; grandchildren, Natalie (Steve) Kohrman of Ft. Wayne and Joel (Kate) Patterson of Leesburg, VA; and seven great-grandchildren, Sarah, Jason, Elisabeth, Cecilia, Teresa, Isaac and Leo. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lowell Bodine; brothers, Joe Wiseman, Charles Wiseman, Jr., Guy Wiseman and Dael Wiseman; and sisters, Betty Scott and Bonnie Wiseman.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 2 to 5 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with Pastor Barry Faucett officiating. Burial will follow at Union Township Cemetery in Columbia City. Memorial gifts may be given in Phyllis memory to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home.