Phyllis Roberta Turpin Birch Obituary (1935

Phyllis Roberta Turpin Birch, 86, of Farmer City, IL passed away on October 5, 2022 at Bridle Brook Assisted Living & Memory Care Center, Mahomet, IL. Phyllis was born on December 30, 1935 to Elmer and Viona Brennan Turpin in Farmer City, Illinois. She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. While attending a church dance in Clinton, Illinois at the age 18 she met her future husband, Vaughn Birch. They were married for time and all eternity on October 15, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple. They have six children. She is survived and remembered by five children; Kenneth A. Birch of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Karen L. Lee of Harrison, Arkansas, Kristie J. Birch of Farmer City, Illinois, Keith J. Birch (Eileen) of Grants Pass, Oregon and Kevin W. Birch (Kim) of Westerville, Ohio, 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, a sister Sue Turpin Hayes (Jack) of Monticello, Illinois and brother Max Turpin (Karen) St. George, Utah. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Vaughn Birch on February 18, 2021, parents, Elmer Turpin and Viona Brennan Turpin, brother Mark Matthew Turpin and one daughter, Kathy Sue Birch. A visitation will occur on Monday, October 17, 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the Calvert-Belangee-Bruce funeral home in Farmer City. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 604 W. Windsor Road, Champaign, IL conducted by Bishop Jason Hirschi of the Mahomet Ward. Burial will be at the Nixon Township Cemetery, Weldon, Illinois immediately following the funeral. Phyllis lived in Farmer City her entire life where she and her husband raised their six children. She will be greatly missed by family, friends and neighbors. Phyllis drove a school bus for Farmer City-Mansfield and later Blue Ridge School Districts for more than 25 years. She also worked for Southland Corporation, Champaign, Illinois for 15 years. She loved her family and taught her children and grandchildren many life lessons. She supported her daughter Kathy in many Special Olympic activities. She was instrumental in that her three sons and a daughter served as full missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where they served in Utah, Australia, South Carolina and the Philippines. She also had a great influence on her children marrying in the temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The family expresses gratitude to Carle Hospital doctors, Bridle Brook Assisted Living, Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Mahomet Ward members and for good friends and neighbors. Memorials may be made to Special Olympics, Bloomington, Illinois.