Smith, Phyllis

 

Phyllis Smith, who was Punta Gorda’s first woman City Council member, was born Phyllis J. Schwab in Dayton, Ohio on November 26, 1926, the only child to Mabel and John Schwab.

Phyllis lived in Punta Gorda for many years before returning to Dayton, Ohio, the last three years of her life.  She enjoyed being active in the community, serving on the Board of the PGI Civic Association Isles Yacht Club, Isle-ettes of the IYC, and the Charlotte Regional Medical Center Hospital and Civic Advisory Council.  Phyllis was a 50-year member of Eastern Star, past president of the Peace River Republican Women’s Forum and formerly a Republican Precinct Committeewoman. 

In 1985, she became Punta Gorda’s first City Council woman and in that role she pushed for beautification of the city’s downtown. Phyllis wanted her adopted home to be lusher and more beautiful.  Among the many things we can thank her for is our Downtown Clock.  She was elected as the first female City Council member in 1985, and served as Vice Mayor for two terms.  Phyllis was Chairman and Founding member of the Punta Gorda Revitalization Committee.  Phyllis was a member and Elder at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church.  Because of Phyllis’s efforts, the Community Redevelopment Agency enabled the city’s revitalization for many years. She also served on boards of the PGI Civic Association and Charlotte Regional Medical Center and was president of the Peace River Republican Women's Forum,

Smith’s husband, USAF Lt. Col. Roger H. Smith,  died in 2010.

At the time of her death in 2016, Phyllis was survived by her daughters Linda (Bill) Hostutler of Kettering, Ohio and Jane (Doug) Mason of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, stepdaughter Shelly (Michael) Rill of New Jersey, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.  i