Phyllis C. Whitney

Photo:

Phyllis C. Whitney

SOUTH PARIS — Phyllis C. Whitney, 90, went home to be with her Lord on Friday, April 22, 2011 at Market Square Health Care Center after a period of failing health.

The first of six children, she was born on September 7, 1920 to Linwood and Ernestine Maxim Corbett. She was a 1938 graduate of South Paris High School. She attended Gray’s Business College in Portland, becoming proficient in shorthand, bookkeeping and typing. After learning that her style of penmanship was not acceptable for the business world, she diligently worked to make her penmanship more business-like, receiving awards for this in the process.

She married Robert W. Whitney in Portland, in August 1940 where they resided until moving to Port Deposit, MD where he was assigned to the USNTC Bainbridge. They remained in Maryland after his service in the Navy. She was a bookkeeper for several businesses in the Baltimore area, and was a faithful member of the University Baptist Church in Baltimore.

In 1968, she returned to South Paris and was employed at the A. C. Lawrence Leather Co. until the business closed. She then became the secretary for South Paris Baptist Church and the Paris Christian Academy until retiring at the age of 80.

Mrs. Whitney never owned a car so she was known around town as the “Roadrunner," often walking five miles to her place of birth at the family residence on King Hill. Her great love of nature stemmed from life on the family farm on King Hill. Being particularly fond of trees, family members often made a special point of supplying her with photographs of unusual trees. She was also very fond of mountains, rainbows, butterflies, and gardening.

She was a gifted poet. In 1938 she won a $10 prize for her poem, "My Garden," that was ultimately published in the local newspaper. She was the class historian at her high school graduation and she presented the class history in poetic form.

She firmly believed that her greatest gift from God was serving others. She was a faithful servant to her Lord, family, friends, and her church. She was always ready to lend a helping hand. In keeping with her service to others, she enrolled in the Anatomical Donor Program at the University of New England.

Mrs. Whitney is survived by her daughter, Roberta Pinkham of Windham; son-in-law, Wendell Pinkham; grandson, Jeremy Pinkham and his wife Hannah Gill of North Carolina; sisters, Janice (Mrs. Jack Rosenberg) of South Paris, Melva Simmons of Strasburg, VA and Leone (Mrs. John Callina) of Oxford and many precious nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; baby sister, Grace Eileen; brother Erwin and his wife Bobbie of Texas; nephew, Michael Corbett, and brother-in-law, W. Thomas Simmons.

At a later date a memorial service and celebration of her life will be scheduled at the South Paris Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Paris Christian Academy Scholarship Fund, c/o South Paris Baptist Church, 1 Park Street, South Paris, ME 04281.