Eagleville, MO: Phyllis Jo Eastin was born on a farm south of Lamoni, Iowa in Decatur County on February 3, 1926 the daughter of Chalmer and Minnie (Stanley) Eastin. She passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022 at a St. Joseph, Missouri hospital.
Phyllis attended school in Eagleville, Missouri, graduating in 1944. She moved to Des Moines, Iowa and obtained secretarial work. She was employed by Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company for six years and Travelers Insurance Company, under the red umbrella, for 32 years.
She married Melvin F. Ritchie, Jr. on December 23, 1950 in Bethany, Missouri. In May 1951, they moved to Dayton, Ohio and a son, Alan Joe Ritchie, was born there. In 1952, they returned to Des Moines to live; Melvin to work as a pressman at Meredith Publishing Company and Phyllis as a secretary at Travelers. Melvin passed away in January 1973, but Phyllis continued to work at Travelers until she retired in 1984.
In late 1984, Phyllis moved to Laguna Park, Texas on Lake Whitney to live near her sister, Donna. Upon the death of Donna’s husband, the sisters returned to Harrison County, Missouri where they had been raised. In 1998, they established residences near brother, Kay Eastin and family at Eagleville, Missouri.
Phyllis was a member of the Eagleville United Methodist Church, Harrison County Community Hospital Auxiliary, Modernaires FCE Club, Modernette Club, Red Hat Friends, and Southgate Chapter #547 Order of Eastern Star, Des Moines.
In addition to her husband, Melvin, she was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Donna Gilliland Yates, and brother, Kay Eastin and wife, Peachie.
Phyllis is survived by her son, A. Joe Ritchie and wife, Celine; step-granddaughters, Elizabeth (Ben) Tremaine and Alison Axworthy of San Anselmo, CA; sister, Karen Paulsen, Rapid City, SD and nephews, nieces and their families.
Graveside Services and Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 11 in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Blythedale, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, MO. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday at Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, MO. A Memorial Service to honor Phyllis will be scheduled and held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Eagleville United Methodist Church and/or Donor’s Choice in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Eagleville, MO 64442. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com