Phyllis Jane Smith Rushton
June 27, 1932 ~ August 12, 2019
Phyllis Jane Smith Rushton, 87, of Mooresville, passed away August 12, 2019. She was born June 27, 1932, in Mooresville, Morgan County, Indiana. She was the youngest of two children of the late Edward McKendree and Ossie Emma (Waltz) Smith of Mooresville. She graduated from Mooresville High School in May 1950 and married Bernard “Bernie” Hadley Rushton of Monrovia, on June 19, 1951 in Mooresville, Morgan County IN . They were married 66 years before Bernie’s passing. In her early years she worked at Indiana Bell Telephone Company in Indianapolis. In addition, she worked at Mooresville License Branch, Morgan County Bank & Trust and retired from Faeber’s Bee Window. She was a member of the Plainfield Christian Church.
She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Sigma Soriety of Kappa and Delta Chapters in Mooresville and a past President.
Family time and vacations were treasured memories. Among Phyllis and Bernie’s favorite trips were when they went to the Holy Land on two occasions.
She spent many hours traveling to libraries researching the family genealogy and created 80 books of family history. Her books will be donated to Danville and Mooresville Libraries with an entire second collection maintained at the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Phyllis was a member of the Wa-Pe-Ke-Way Chapter Daughters of the American Revoultion (DAR) and Daughters of the Union of the Civil War (DUV) and also a former member of the Indiana Genealogical Society and Genealogy Nuts of Danville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard “Bernie” Rushton; parents, Edward McKendree & Ossie Emma (Waltz) Smith; sister, Margaret “Margy” Alice (Smith) Mendenhall; son-in-law Phillip, Anthony Rainbolt; a nephew, Edward Ray Mendenhall and great nephew, Edward Austin Mendenhall.
She is survived by her children, Brian Rushton (Linda) of Camby, Brenda Hunt (John) of Mooresville, and Betsy Rainbolt of Newark, Ohio; grandchildren, Jeremy (Kia) Rushton, Tiffany (Christopher) Thies, Jessica Scalf, Lindsay (Dale) Luttrell, Courtney Horgan, Stephanie (Joel) Houghton, Sarah (Brian) Gardner, Paul “Joe” (Hannah) Hunt, Sam and Erin Rainbolt, and eleven great grandchildren along with several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 17, 2019, in the chapel at Carlisle - Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville, with calling there from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, August 16, 2019. Burial will be in the Mooresville Cemetery, Mooresville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Plainfield Christian Church. Visit www.carlisebranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Brenda, Thinking of you and your family. Sad when we lose a loved one, especially a Mom. May you find comfort in all your sweet memories and pictures. Hugs! Nancy Hunt Davis
I only met Phyllis once but she was such a warm, caring person. Prayers for the family.
So sweet and so kind… When I was with her she was always uplifting others. Our deepest sympathies to Brenda and John, Stephanie and Sarah and the rest of the family… ♡ Praying for you.
My deepest sympathy to Brenda and the family on the passing of Phyllis. I’m privileged to have gotten to know her through church and then in DAR. She always had a ready smile and was so loving and friendly to everyone she met. She will definitely be missed. Unfortunately, I am scheduled to be out of town this weekend at a church conference, so I won’t be able to attend either the viewing or the funeral. May God bless you during this time of sadness. Jonell Klay
I was so fortunate to know Phyllis as I grew up at Mooresville First Christian Church. She and Bernie were always so warm and kind. They were good friends of my parents and members of the “50-50” class. Betsy and Brenda, you have my deepest sympathy, but what a joy knowing she is in Heaven praising our Lord!!
Such a sweet lady who will forever be in my heart. So glad I had the privilege to know you. Prayers to all the family and friends. Annette S.