Phyllis Katheryn Roemmel
February 16, 1929 ~ December 26, 2021
Phyllis Katheryn Morris Roemmel, 92, of Columbus, passed away peacefully of natural causes the morning of December 26, 2021 at her home at Parkside Court in Columbus. She had a joyful Christmas Day visiting with her family with plenty of smiles and laughter.
Phyllis will be remembered as fun-loving and kindhearted and for her love of nature, her patience and creativity in teaching, writing her family stories, and as a master seamstress.
Phyllis was born February 16, 1929, in near Cloverdale, Putnam County, Indiana, the daughter of Albert Gale Morris and Anna Raikes Morris. She married Charles Francis “Fritz” Roemmel on June 21, 1953 at First Baptist Church, Seymour, Indiana.
A virtual memorial service will be conducted at a later date by Fairlawn Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Indiana with the Rev. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Riverview Cemetery, Seymour, Indiana.
Phyllis was a 1947 graduate of Belle Union High School in Putnam County and a graduate of Ball State University in 1951. She was a member of FGC Home Extension Club of Bartholomew County, Senior Scribes at Mill Race Center, and Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Columbus. She taught home economics at Elwood Junior High School in Elwood and Crothersville High School in Crothersville, and fifth grade at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Seymour, Indiana. She volunteered throughout her life for organizations including PTA, Girl Scouts, McDowell Education Center adult literacy program, and Book Buddies. In keeping with her giving nature, she donated her body to the IU School of Medicine Anatomical Education Program.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. January 15, 2022 at the Fairlawn Presbyterian Church officiated by the Rev. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. Those wishing to view the service online may contact Fairlawn Church at 812-372-3882 for details on the zoom link.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Fairlawn Presbyterian Church, 2611 Fairlawn Dr, Columbus IN. 47203. Online condolences and special memories may be shared at www.jewellrittman.com. The family wishes to thank the staff and residents of Parkside Court, where Phyllis resided the last two years.
Survivors include daughter-in-law Kathy Roemmel of Columbus, and daughters, Sharon Roemmel and her spouse, Theresa Cornwell, of Salem, Oregon and Janet Roemmel and her spouse, Roy Adams, of Reston, Virginia.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Anna Morris, her husband, Charles Roemmel, and son, Steven Roemmel.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
R.I.P., Dear Friend….I will treasure your kind and thoughtful ways; the FGC’s will miss you so much. Love, Patsy Harris
Patsy, thanks for the note. She loved all of FGC. You all were an important part of her life. She had been looking forward to hosting the February meeting again at Parkside Ct.
The first time I met Phyllis, she was collecting money in our neighborhood for a the American Heart Association. She and Fritz had just moved to their home on Ridgeway, about three houses from us. When I answered the door, there was Phyllis with a big yellow dog who immediately bounded into my home, went into the formal living room and proceeded to make itself comfortable on a chair. Phyllis didn’t blink any eye about the dog, but did introduce herself and explain her purpose. I gave her a donation and she was about to leave when I asked if she would be taking her dog also. She said, “Oh, that’s not my dog. It has been following me around the neighborhood and when it went into your house, I thought it was yours.” We both had a good laugh and have been remembering that story ever since. That began a friendship that lasted until Christmas night, 2020. Through the years, we have worshipped together at Fairlawn Presbyterian Church, shared memories and family photos, given and received advice on computers (mostly she gave and I learned), and comforted each other in times of loss. Phyllis was loving, devoted to family, clever, generous, strong in character, talented, open minded, one of my best friends. John and I will miss her dearly.
I’ve always loved the story of your meeting. You and John have been such good friends to my parents.
Thanks for sharing. The story was one of family lore. You guys are family to us.
Sincere sympathy to the family of Phyllis.
Virginia Gaston has kept me in touch about her best friend, Phyllis, since my mother, Jeanna Swanson, died in 2016. The three of them were at Ball State together.
Ginny will be so lost without talking to Phyllis every day. Phyllis was so lucky to have a great family and a special friend.
May God comfort each of you in the days and years forward.
Susan Ebert
Laporte,IN
This was my first online funeral and didn’t know what to expect but it turned out great and I really enjoyed it! We will miss you Phyllis.
Phyllis was in our euchre club for many years. She had a heart of gold and was a great euchre player. I still use her recipe for tomato soup with many vegetables ground up in it-always a crowd pleaser. We used to bring her zucchini and vegetables from our garden. We also shared that we had matching old trunks and had fun talking about that. We are glad she went peacefully and after enjoying Christmas. We got a letter and a card from her at Christmas and she seemed very happy and satisfied. She was happy when some of her family moved close by. It brought her much joy. We miss both her and Fritz.
Pam and Dale Langferman