Phyllis Annabelle (Mosier) Irick ended her long journey on May 31, 2020, at Greenhills Community, West Liberty, Ohio.
A “Child of the Depression,” she was born two miles south of Bluffton, in Wells County, Indiana, on Sept. 10, 1928. She was the fourth child of Elmer Foracre Mosier and Rose Eleanor (Black) Mosier. A couple months later, the farm was put up at sheriff’s sale with a minimum bid of $50. No one had $50, so the farm didn’t sell. The family moved six times in the next five years, finally settling in Union Township, Logan County. Phyllis started first grade at Iron City School. The family moved to Pickrelltown and the Zanesfield area before establishing permanent residence just north of Walnut Grove.
In the opening days of World War II, Phyllis’s brother, Robert Earl, brought a curly-haired neighbor to help bale hay. Robert Earl, and “Bob” both left for the Army within two weeks. Phyllis had been stuck with “love at first sight.” Their romance blossomed through censored Army mail, with notes that Bob was where Earl was last month, or Earl was shipped out of the same port Bob had been.
Phyllis was employed as secretary of the Rushsylvania School, and taught typing and shorthand during her senior year. She graduated in 1946, and continued to work and teach until Bob came home from the Army. They were married Aug. 29, 1948, at the Mosier farm on County Road 20, by Rev. C. Lloyd Harris.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Andrew Irick, a son, Gary Lee Irick of Buckeye, Arizona; and a son-in-law, Harold Caudill of Lima. She is survived by two daughters, Sheryl Kathleen Caudill of Cridersville, and Betty Marie (Hans) Blumenstein of Lima; and two sons, Ronald Earl Andrew (Cynthia) of West Liberty, and Timothy Dean (Cyndi) of Columbus; a daughter-in-law, Wende Irick of Buckeye, Arizona; and one sister-in-law, Jeanette Mosier of Bellefontaine. Ten grandchildren, multiple great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews round out the family.
Phyllis was a long-time member and employee of the First Church of God in Bellefontaine. She taught Sunday School for many years. Her last position was as teacher’s aide at Noah’s Ark. She attended First Church of God, West Liberty, in the last years of her life.
Phyllis was the mother and grandmother of nine Eagle Scouts. She was a Den Mother for many years, and is remembered as the first female Assistant Scoutmaster in Tecumseh Council. She was a Certified Red Cross First Aid Instructor, working under Jacki Young.
She was an expert in the fields of wildflowers, herbs, birds and astronomy. Many boys remember her as the “little lady, with long blond braids, and the Smokey the Bear hat.” A lifelong farmer, Phyllis loved her Farmall- H, but absolutely hated the “big ole M.”
Pastor Ken Neighoff officiates Phyllis’s funeral on Thursday, June 4, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. at the Bellefontaine First Church of God, where visitation will be conducted from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Due to the current pandemic guidelines, we ask that visitors be symptom free, and practice social distancing. Burial will be in Rushsylvania Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Green Hills Foundation, 6557 US 68 South, West Liberty, Ohio, 43357; or to the Tecumseh Council — Boy Scouts of America, 326 South Thompson Ave. Springfield, Ohio, 45506.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the staff of Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, and online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.edsfh.com