Phyllis (Wright) Pollock, 83, passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at CHP Inpatient Hospice in Defiance, Ohio. She was born to Lee & I. Lucille “Throne” Wright on October 30, 1941 in Morenci, Michigan.
From an early age Phyllis had a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. As a young girl she sold Christmas and all occasion cards door to door to earn money for a bicycle.
While in high school, she worked at the local movie theater in the concession stand where she had affectionately been named “Popcorn” due to her bubbly personality.
She also worked as a typist for a local chiropractor and part time at Kroger’s grocery store in Montpelier.
She was a majorette in the high school band and loved participating in all the school plays. She played the role of Little Nell in her senior year in the production of “Dirty Work at the Crossroads”.
She graduated from MHS in 1959. In 1961 Phyllis and Jack O. Pollock were married at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Montpelier, Ohio. In 1964 they moved with their two young sons to Toledo, Ohio where she was employed as a cashier at Food Town.
Then in 1969 she and Jack built, owned and operated their family business, Happy Jacks’ Fill & Wash, in Fremont, Ohio. While living in Fremont, Phyllis also owned and operated her Jean’s Shop and later enjoyed a career in real estate.
She started in sales and later with her broker’s license she began purchasing and rehabbing rental properties which she loved working on. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and through the years had been active as President, Vice President of the women’s organization and as a Trustee on the church council.
She also organized a Sunday School Project to collect funds to provide sewing machines for a Sister Church in Tanzania, Africa.
Phyllis always loved to travel and one of her travel highlights was her trip to Africa to personally deliver those machines to Tanzania where she met with the people who were to receive them. From this experience she developed an ongoing friendship with Pastor Etta of Tanzania.
In 2021, after the family business was closed, Phyllis returned to her roots in Montpelier where she spent her remaining years.
Phyllis was reintroduced to Keith McKelvey, a former classmate, who developed into the new love in her life and he survives. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jack who died in 2018, and her sister-in-law, Glenna Wright.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Gary (Janet) Pollock; Randy (Deb) Pollock and David (Kerri) Pollock all of Fremont, Ohio; grandchildren, Stephanie (Chad) Hetrick, Sheri (Eric) Ochs, Gary John (Tesla) Pollock, Derek (Megan) Pollock, Justin Pollock, Devin Pollock, Chris Pollock, Victoria Pollock and Ethan (Brynna) Hetrick; great-grandchildren, Hunter Pollock, Wyatt Pollock, Bella Ochs, Wesley Pollock, Ava Pollock, Emie Pollock, and great-great grandchild, Archer Hetrick; her siblings, Karen (Ronald) Piojda, Denver Wright, Richard (Janet) Wright with many nieces and nephews as well as members of her extended McKelvey family including Roger McKelvey, Rex McKelvey and Becky Eisel.
Visitation for Phyllis will be held at the Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, 900 North St., Fremont, OH 43420 on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 from 2-6 PM. Funeral Services will begin at 11:00 AM on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Faith Lutheran Church, Fremont, OH. On Monday, Dec. 30th from 10 AM-12 PM there will be Visitation held at Thompson Funeral Home, 204 E Main St, Montpelier, OH 43543 with burial following at Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church: 1186 S. CR 128, Fremont, Ohio 43420. To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.