Phyllis Romine, Rest in Peace

#252 / News Extra

A beloved member of the Family Flood — Phyllis Cremeans Romine, wife of Floodster Emeritus Chuck Romine — died peacefully earlier this week at age 88.

For nearly 25 years, Phyllis was joyful presence in our circle, a smiling face in the audience at shows, a sharer of laughs and stories at our jam sessions, our hostess at memorable feasts at her bountiful table.

She and Chuck married on the day after Christmas in 1957 at Huntington’s Johnson Memorial Methodist Church.

Last year they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together with gathered loved ones in Huntington.

As The Herald-Dispatch reported in her obituary this morning, “Phyllis was known for her indomitable spirit and gracious hospitality to any and all who found their way to her kitchen table; early on, she found a calling in cooking and serving others.”

Education and music were Phyllis’s passions. While a student at Marshall University, she played flute in the marching band. Later, with her newborn daughter in her arms and three sons and husband at her side, she received a Master of Arts in Education degree in 1969 from Marshall.

For the next 43 years, Phyllis was a multidisciplinary public school teacher in such varied fields as music and special education, from kindergarten through 12th grade, in Cabell County schools.

“She loved singing hymns, praying, baking, and gifting loaves of banana bread, travel, gardening, dancing the jitterbug, and studying history and genealogy,” the obituary reported. “And, mostly, she loved being with her family and friends in intimate gatherings at home.”

Thanks for all those sweet memories, dear friend!