Phyllis M. Reith

Phyllis M. Reith, 89, of Huntington, passed away Friday, September 11, 2020 at 7: 35 p.m at her home in rural Whitley County. Born March 25, 1931 in Huntington, she was the daughter of Paul J. and Agnes E. (Campbell) Eckert.

She grew up in Whitley County and graduated from Washington Center High School with the Class of 1948. She married Jack Swain on September 25, 1948 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. In 1950, they moved to the Milford and Elkhart area, then to Houston, Texas before moving back to Indiana. After Jack passed away in 1960, Phyllis married Richard J. Reith Sr. on December 31, 1982 in Columbia City. She worked at CTB in Milford and retired in 1996. She was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church, the Rosary Sodality, Jefferson Township Home Extension Club and the Harmony-Study Club.

Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Dick Reith;  brother, Austin Eckert; children, Ronald Swain; Donald (Donna) Swain, H. Douglas Swain,  Jean Ayyoub, Teresa Reith, Richard Reith Jr., Katherine (Steven) LaDew, Cheryl Reith and Judith Reith; sons-in-law, Agee Iqbal and Robert Bacewic; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughters, Sonia Azhar and Ruby "Jane" Bacewic; brothers, Paul DeWayne and Earl Eckert; and grandchildren, Dustin Millard and Lacie Millard.

A gathering of family and friends will be 3:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 14, 2020 at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a Rosary prayer beginning at 3 p.m. With the current Executive Order, face masks are required for attendance. Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, with visitation one-hour prior. Father Dale A. Bauman will be officiating.  Burial will follow at St Catherine’s Cemetery. With limited seating at the church, Phyllis's funeral Mass may also be watched live on Facebook through DeMoney Grimes Live . Memorial donations may be given in memory to Masses, the Preservation Fund of St. Catherine's Catholic Church or the American Cancer Fund. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send her family online condolences or sign the online guest book.