Phyllis Christian

By | March 1, 2022

Phyllis Juanita (Nance) Christian, age 84, of Oak Hill, Ohio passed away Friday, February 25, 2022. Her faith in the Lord never wavered throughout her brave battle against pulmonary fibrosis. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Wyngate Senior Living Community in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Phyllis was born October 23, 1937, in Oak Hill, Ohio to the late Edward and Celia (McCain) Nance. After graduating from Oak Hill High School, she married Robert Christian, her high school sweetheart. In the early years of her marriage, she was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, baking, and hosting friends and family. Some years later, she worked outside the home at the Hi-way Restaurant and then Buckeye Hills Career Center, where she continued to work until her retirement. After retirement, they spent the winter months in Brooksville, Florida making many new friends. Bob and Phyllis were both very active in their churches, attending both Trinity Wesleyan Church in Oak Hill and Brooksville Wesleyan Church in Florida. She was a member of the Gideons Auxillary and served alongside Bob in his Gideon activities. As a couple, they enjoyed traveling all over the country and were able to make one special trip to the Holy Land. Phyllis had many hobbies, including cooking, baking, quilting, playing card games and shuffleboard. The highlight of her summers was the yearly vacation with all her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Robert Christian; daughters: Bethany (Randy) Cole, of Little Hocking, Ohio and Gwen (Brian) Smith, of Rogers, Arkansas; son, Bruce (Alice) Christian, of Plano, Texas; 10 grandchildren: Justin Cole (Michelle), Derek Cole (Megan), Alexia Necessary (Derek), Landon Cole (Abby), Hayley Zupan, Brittani Durr (Michael), Alyssa Walker (Samuel), Nathaniel Smith (Jaime), Amelia Christian, and Daniel Christian (Shelby). Also surviving are 14 great-grandchildren: Owen, Liana, Aralyn, Brenna, Paige, Christian and Hattie Cole, Sonnett and Hollis Necessary, Marlowe Zupan, Elijah and Emmalyn Durr, and Jameson and Norah Walker. She was looking forward to the arrival of three more great-grandchildren this year. She is also survived by one sister, Teresa (David) Tope of Richmond, KY. She is preceded in death by her parents.

We would like to give special thanks to Amedisys Hospice for their tender and loving care.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Oak Hill. Funeral services will immediately follow at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home with Justin Cole officiating. Burial will follow in C.M. Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideons International to purchase Bibles in her memory by mailing a card provided at the funeral service, or by donating online at https://sendtheword.org. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillum.com