Phylis Marie Walters Robe – August 27, 1931 – February 21, 2024. Phylis Robe gently entered into her eternal reward in the early morning of Tuesday, February 21st. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Harry Robe. She is survived by three children, son Gary (Corlis) in Kingsport, TN, daughter Diane Sprowl (Jerry) in Bowling Green, KY, and son Gerald (Jessica) in San Antonio, TX, four grandchildren Jake Sprowl and Stephanie Leedy in Bowling Green, Dominic Robe in Melbourne, Australia and Isaac Robe in Kingsport, TN, and four great grandchildren, Julia and Claira Leedy and Rosemary and Timothy Robe.

Phylis was born on August 27th, 1931 in South Bend, Indiana. Her early years were challenging due to the death of her father in 1938. Her mother Irene was a woman with a rare 2-year college associate degree in business and bookkeeping, talents which allowed her to parlay a bookkeeping job at an auto parts manufacturer into ownership of the company. In 1948 Phylis enrolled in Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana with the intent of emulating her mother by earning an associate degree in business. Her fiancée, Harry, convinced her to switch to a 4-year program as a Home Economics major with a business minor. With those credentials and a life-long love of  cooking and collecting recipes, Phylis was hired to host The Homemakers Hour on WSBT-TV in South Bend, a daily cooking and home economics show, a job she held until her baby bump began showing in 1956, ending her TV career. Phylis' skills as a seamstress and business manager kept her employed at jobs ranging from Graham Studios to The Learning Assistance Center she and Harry established, providing supplemental educational services ranging from tutoring to psychological therapy until they retired in 1985.

Phylis was a passionate member of State Street United Methodist Church. The family visited SSUMC on their second Sunday after moving to Bowling Green in 1966. Friendships formed that day remain strong right to the present. Phylis was an enthusiastic contributor to many of the church's ministries. She sewed countless facemasks during the pandemic. The annual church bazaar was a highlight for her to contribute uncountable sewing, embroidery and baked goods. For ten years the whole family postponed their Thanksgiving celebration for a day in order to volunteer for cooking, serving and delivering meals for the community Thanksgiving Feast provided by SSUMC and First Christian Church. Phylis provided administrative support for the Churches United in Christ Help Ministry that Harry was instrumental in founding. Phylis' proudest moments were when three generations of Robes filled an entire pew at SSUMC on a Sunday morning. When she could no longer use it, Phylis donated her serger sewing machine to the church where it continues to produce hand-sewed items for charitable use.

Visitation for Phylis Marie Walters Robe will be at Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home on Sunday, February 25th from 3-6 PM. There will be a memorial service for Phylis at State Street United Methodist Church on Monday, February 26th at 11 AM followed by an invitation-only inurnment of cremains at the SSUMC Columbarium. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial expressions to be donations to the Churches United in Christ Help Ministry at State Street United Methodist Church.