Phyllis Whyman

Phyllis "Flip" (Hammond) Whyman passed June 30, 2019. She was born January 6, 1927, in Nepera Park, Yonkers, New York, the youngest of the four children of Thomas and Alice (Higgins) Hammond.

Phyllis grew up in Yonkers and after graduation immediately went to work at Macy's in New York City as an Executive Messenger. Her next job was as a receptionist, telephone operator, and bookkeeper at Rockledge Manor Residential Hotel. One day, when her boss swore at her, she quit her job. She then went to work at the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church in New York City as a typist clerk. After a few years, they arranged for a loan so she could attend Plattsburgh State Teachers College, New York. To pay for school and while carrying a full load of classes, she worked part-time during school as a secretary in the audio-visual department and evenings as a switchboard operator in the dormitory. During the summers, she worked full-time as a switchboard operator and receptionist. Two summers were challenging and interesting when she worked for elder statesman and financier, Bernard Baruch.

After graduating with a B.S. in Education, majoring in Home Economics, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she taught at Menaul School, a boarding high school operated by the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church. Later became Assistant Dean of Girls. During her summers she started her graduate studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder with a major in Guidance and Counseling.

She met Roy Whyman at the Presbyterian College Group. They started dating after a BBQ the group had one Sunday evening on Flagstaff Mountain above Boulder. They went to concerts, square dancing, lectures, and hiking. They were married at First Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico. They first lived in Nederland, Colorado, where Flip taught English, science, and home economics and was the school counselor at the Junior/Senior High School. One winter the wooden water mains in Nederland froze, so they hauled water from the school for their needs and took showers in the evenings at the school.

Flip decided to stay at home and devote her time to the family. Later, to help plan for their children’s college education, Flip went back to work as a substitute teacher, Social Services Director at Frasier Meadows Manor Health Care Center, and coordinator of assisted living/social worker at Golden West. She also led workshops and seminars on marriage enrichment, conflict management, personal growth, and aging. Additionally, she was involved with the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Homes and Ministries, a ministry for the aging.

Throughout her lifetime, she volunteered in her community and had many hobbies and interests. During WWII, she volunteered at the Red Cross Canteen Corp, USO, and the American Legion Auxiliary in New York. In Boulder, she was a volunteer in the Boulder Community Hospital Auxiliary, various administrative church committees, the PTA, the high school band parents board, and the Citizen’s Advisory Committee. She served as an election judge. She enjoyed traveling, square dancing, camping, genealogy, and rose gardening. Throughout her life, she enjoyed singing and having friendships with people in the church choirs.

Together, Roy and Flip have always been partners, deeply in love and dedicated to their lives together.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 61 years, her children Wynne Whyman and Paul Whyman, four nephews, and one niece. Flip was predeceased by her siblings: Ruth, Ben, and Walter.

Throughout her life, she focused on people and their needs, being an optimist, and wishing blessings unending that God’s grace may abound in people’s lives. A memorial service for family and friends was held July 16.