Phyllis Marie (Flanagan) (Birkle) Elenich, 85, of Westminster Village of Terre Haute and formerly of Rockville, passed away at 9:47 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2019. at Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care. She was born January 8, 1934. in Indianapolis. to the late Isaac and Martha Lovell Flanagan.

Her first husband, Victor E. Birkle, died October 28, 1954, in Aleen, Germany, with the U. S. Army.

Survivors include her brother, Isaac Flanagan Jr. of Indianapolis; sisters, Pat Wikel and Toby Sigler of California; children, Victor Birkle Jr. (Pam) of Poseyville, Adele Berry (Rodney) and Angela Stout (Richard) of Rockville; stepdaughter, Karen (Levon) Elenich of Blum, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Victor Birkle III, Alex Birkle (Maritza), Tyler Birkle, Terran Williams (Nick), Rodney Berry Jr., Blake Berry, Tiffani Martin (Jared), Chelsie Krill (Peter), Cody Stout and Elora Thomas; nine great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Amy Elenich Thomas; brother, Robert "Bob" Flanagan; and sister-in-law, Margie Flanagan.

She was a graduate of Avon High School where she was valedictorian and president of her class of 1951. She obtained her B.A. degree in English education and her master's in library science from Indiana State University where she was a Hazel Tesh Pfenning scholar and honorary member of Sigma Tau Delta. She furthered her education at Purdue University in Lafayette as a media specialist.

She retired from North Vermillion High School in 1994 after many years of teaching. She was past president of North Vermillion Teachers' Union and of the Parke County Retired Teachers' Association.

She spent most of her life in service of others. Her service activities included the Union Hospital Service League and chaplain's Office, library of the Rockville Christian Church and reading to the children in the Vigo County schools. She was also a member of Judson Baptist Church and the United Methodist Women. At Westminster she was a third-floor lobby leader and instrumental on the library expansion and served as secretary for the Westminster Board of Trustees.

She traveled extensively, both nationally and internationally. One proud moment for her was when she was a guest star on the Phil Donahue show in Chicago in 1983 after attending the show starring feminist Gloria Steinem. She was likened to Phyllis Diller for her one-line quips and was treated to a swank hotel with all expenses paid.

She was ahead of her time in many ways, especially with technology. She loved to read and watch sports, especially when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were playing.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Gooch Funeral Home, 112 W. Howard Street, Rockville, with the Rev. Greg Robbins officiating. Inurnment will follow at Memory Garden Cemetery, Rockville. Memorial Visitation is 1 until 2 p.m. Wednesday. Online condolences may be shared at:

www.goochfuneralhome.com