Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 17, 2018
Location: Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church
Reception: Following the Service
Location: Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church
Interment: St. Luke’s Church Cemetery
Phyllis Jean Arbogast, 88, passed away at Mary Immaculate Hospital on Monday, March 12, 2018, following a short illness.
Phyllis was born in Renick, WV on March 7, 1930, the middle child among three girls. She entered West Virginia University at the age of 16, and began teaching Home Economics at Greenbank High School four years later. While living in Greenbank, Phyllis met her future husband of 63 years, William “Bill” Arbogast. Together they raised two daughters and one son in the Hampton Roads area. While she enjoyed being a homemaker and raising her children, Phyllis continued her teaching career as a Home Economics teacher at Mary Atkins Christian School and later as a substitute teacher for Hampton City Public Schools. Her love of books and working with children led Phyllis to her final career at the Blackwater Regional Library Carrollton Branch, where she was promoted to Children’s Program Coordinator, retiring from her dream job at the age of 80.
Phyllis enjoyed gardening throughout her life; it began while she was raised on a farm in the lush Renick Valley, and it was a shared passion with her husband. Her cupboards and freezers were well stocked with all the fruits of their labors, from homemade pickles and jams to freshly picked sweet corn frozen at the peak of perfection. Flower gardening also gave Phyllis great joy, and in season there was always a vase or two of freshly cut flowers in her house. In retirement, she found the time to indulge in her love of books, and became a prolific reader.
Phyllis treasured the time she spent with her family, and particularly enjoyed doting on her two granddaughters. She was an active member of Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, William. She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Russell (Ron) of Newport News; son, Steve Arbogast of Newport News; daughter, Kim Wu (Garret) of Chantilly, VA; granddaughters, Rachel and Katie; and sister, Lucille Bryan of Atlanta, GA.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church with a reception to follow at the church. Interment will be private at St. Luke’s Church Cemetery, Smithfield, VA. Arrangements are by Weymouth Funeral Home.