Phyllis Jean Smith

Smith, Phyllis Jean (Decker), 94, of Oakwood, OH passed away on July 31, 2016 at Brookdale Oakwood. Phyllis was born on June 20, 1922 in Bellevue, OH to Adrian Milton and Gladys Marie (Kleckner) Decker. She graduated from York High School (Sandusky County) in 1940, and attended Baldwin Wallace College and the University of Michigan, where she earned a BA in Sociology in 1944. Phyllis married Howard Storer Smith on October 14, 1944, and was married for over 70 years at the time of his passing in 2015. Phyllis and Howard settled in Yellow Springs, OH in 1945 and lived there until moving to Fairborn after Howard retired from his veterinary practice in 1985. In 2014 she moved to Brookdale Oakwood where she resided until her death. Phyllis and Howard spent more than 35 years wintering in Ft. Myers Beach, FL and enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world over several decades. A 70-year member of First Presbyterian Church in Yellow Springs, Phyllis enjoyed serving for many years as a Deacon. She was an avid reader and a longtime member of the Yellow Springs Senior Center, where she served as a volunteer driver. Phyllis is survived by two children, Michael Adrian (Lonna) Smith and Deborah Kay (Kevin) Riley; three grandchildren, Andrew Michael (Yesenia Rios) Smith, Megan Adrianne Riley and Rachel Marie Riley; one great grandson, Diego Theodore Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lois Janet Decker and Nancy Joan (Decker) Brown. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, September 20 in the First Presbyterian Church, Yellow Springs, OH. Inurnment will be held at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, September 21 in McPherson Cemetery, Clyde, OH. Memorial donations may be made to the Yellow Springs Senior Center, the Hospice of Dayton or the charity of your choice.