Phyllis E. Thomin's Obituary
Phyllis Thomin Obituary
Phyllis E. Thomin (nee Tulk), 92, of Elyria, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 17, 2021. She was born January 22, 1929, in Elyria to George and Grace Tulk. Phyllis was a 1946 graduate of Elyria High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Baldwin Wallace College in 1950. She married the late Calvin Thomin September 2, 1950. They lived the first two years in Hamilton, OH and returned to Elyria in 1952, where they lived for sixty-two years. Phyllis taught junior high English for a year in Hamilton before beginning her career with Elyria Schools teaching English to adult learners in night school. She then taught English full-time at Elyria High School in 1959, until retiring in 1983. She could often be found in the evenings with her family, surrounded by the papers she was grading with her trusty red pencil in hand to provide plenty of helpful feedback. Along with others in the English Department, Phyllis helped to author Techniques in Communication, a style book created to assist students in writing, especially term papers. She also led discussions for Honors Readers, chaperoned dances in the school gym, and assisted with selection of recipients for the Gates Scholarship. The daughter of a choir director and alto soloist, Phyllis had a beautiful, clear soprano voice. She sang in school and church choirs, and was a soloist at the weddings of several friends. Phyllis and Calvin were proud supporters of Elyria sports teams. They were in the stands for basketball, football and baseball games, and loaded the station wagon with their kids and their friends to travel to playoff games. Phyllis was a life-long member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elyria. After her retirement, she joined a group of needlepointers to create covers for all the cushions in the sanctuary, which are still in use. Family was Phyllis' first priority. She loved spending time with Calvin, their children and grandchildren, car trips, reading, tending her beautiful irises, and baking cookies that were shared with and enjoyed by family and neighbors. Phyllis is survived by her son Michael and his wife Patti of Elyria; daughters, Susan Lillehei of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and Cynthia and her husband John Reid of Amherst, Ohio. She is also survived by her grandchildren Shanda Lillehei, Gregory Lillehei and his wife Heather, Michelle Thomin, Elizabeth Thomin, John T. Reid and his wife Sierra, and Austin Reid; great-grandchildren, Landon, Levi and Paxton Lillehei. She is also missed by former student and special family friend Laura Nagy. Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Calvin Thomin in 2015; parents, George and Grace (nee Haynes) Tulk; brother George “Skip” Tulk Jr, and son-in-law Jeffrey Lillehei. Friends will be received Friday, April 23, 2021 from 4:00 pm until the time of a 6:00 pm service at Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria. The Rev. Kathy Ketchum will officiate. Covid-19 precautions will be observed, face masks are required. Private burial will be in Brookdale Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Elyria High School English Department, 601 Middle Avenue, Elyria, Ohio 44035 ATTN: Tim Brown or Elyria Public Library System-Central Branch, 320 Washington Avenue, Elyria, Ohio 44035; please put “New Central Branch” in the memo line. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.comVisitationDicken Funeral Home and Cremation ServiceFriday, April 23, 2021 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 323 Middle Ave.Elyria, OH 44035 ServiceDicken Funeral Home and Cremation ServiceFriday, April 23, 2021 6:00 PM 323 Middle Ave.Elyria, OH 44035
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