Phyllis Paulson Kirbabas

Phyllis Paulson Kirbabas, age 87, passed away peacefully at Cleveland Clinic Akron General on May 18, 2024 surrounded by family.    Born in Mansfield, Ohio to Ray and Ruth Paulson, she graduated from Mansfield High School in 1954 and attended DePauw University. She studied abroad in Montpellier, France before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree and moving to Dayton to teach French in the Dayton Public School System.  While teaching there she met her beloved husband of 52 years, Perry. She took time away from teaching to raise her children and returned to teaching, first at Christ United Methodist preschool in Kettering and later teaching French and Spanish in the Dayton Public Schools.

Phyllis was incredibly creative and artistic.  Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, painting, gardening and reading. She was a foodie before the term existed. She enjoyed spending time with her 10 grandchildren going above and beyond to make holidays and family gatherings special.  Her sharp mind and wit kept her kids on their toes and allowed her to sweep everyJeopardy competition put before her.   Her great sense of humor lives on in her children and grandchildren.  Phyllis was thrilled to recently become a great grandmother to Maverick and Arlo.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Ray Paulson, and her husband Perry.   Those left to cherish her memory are daughter, Ruthanne (Tim) Myers; sons, Chris (Stel) and Matt (Maggie); sister, Connie Greenwald; sisters-in-law, Helen and Marcia; grandchildren Alec (Katie), Tyler, Zachary (Lexi), Trevor, Conner, Nicholas (Mackenzie), Delaney (Zach), Alexandria (Zane), Samuel, and Sydney; great grandsons Maverick and Arlo and many nieces and nephews.

Two services will be held in Phyllis’ memory.  On Friday, May 31 at noon there will be a service at Riverwood Chapel, 1407 Fairchild Avenue, Kent, OH 44240. This service can be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/@RiverwoodChapel.   For the second service family will greet friends from 11:00-12:00 on Friday,  June 7, 2024 in the Chapel at David’s Cemetery Mausoleum, 4600 Mad River Road, Kettering, OH 45429.  Funeral service will follow at 12:00.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Phyllis’s memory to the ASPCA, https://secure.aspca.org>donate.

The family would like to thank the staff at Heritage of Hudson for the care and compassion they gave Phyllis over the last five years.  We found great comfort knowing she was in good hands.