Phyllis Joyce Seaton Isaacs, 91, of Gainesville FL, went peacefully to be with her Lord on December 10, 2020. Phyllis was a loving wife to Gerald W. Isaacs for 72 years and a devoted mother to her six children.

A strong supporter of her husband’s academic career (which included 16 years as Department Head at Purdue University and 11 years as Department Chairman at the University of Florida), Phyllis loved to welcome all who came to their home. She was always ready for visitors, graciously entertaining family as well as friends, faculty and students from the US and around the world. Returning the favor, Phyllis and Gerald enjoyed traveling throughout the world, experiencing different cultures, sights and visiting friends and family.

Phyllis was born in Turin, Iowa on December 19, 1928 to Ernest and Gertrude Seaton. She attended the local country school and graduated from Soldier High School in 1947. After high school graduation, she worked for the Railroad Retirement Board in Chicago where she met Gerald in 1946 when he was in the US Navy. They each had attended a dance billed as “over 40” and were the only ones there at 18 and 17 years old.  A coincidence turned to a blessing and they married two years later on August 22, 1948,  as Gerald started a faculty appointment at Purdue. At age 19, Phyllis was probably the youngest faculty wife at the time.

Phyllis was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church:  Soldier Lutheran church (Soldier, Iowa) where she was married;  Redeemer Lutheran Church (West Lafayette, IN) and First Lutheran Church (Gainesville, FL). She sang in the choir(s) and was an active member of church bible studies and ladies’ organizations and was also a long-time member of the Gainesville Women’s Club and Tri Kappa service sorority.

A very loving mother to her children and their spouses, Phyllis encouraged them in their academic and career objectives ensuring that they had a strong belief in our Lord Jesus. She continued her devotion to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Phyllis is survived by four of her six children: David Isaacs (Jenny), Donald Isaacs (Karen), Susan Dippon (Duane) and Linda Isaacs.  Five year old Joyce died in 1955 of bacterial meningitis while five week old Joseph died of SIDS the same year. Phyllis and Gerald have been blessed with ten grandchildren: Sara Hannum (Mark), Matthew Isaacs (Cynthia), Laura Isaacs (Samantha), Nathan Isaacs (Mark), Daniel Isaacs (Angela), Phillip Isaacs, Peter Isaacs, Meg  Shaw (Lee), Beth Reynolds (Jesse) and Chris Dippon (Samantha) and eleven great-grandchildren with one due to be born in March.  Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers: Gail Seaton and Roger Seaton. She is survived by a brother Duane Seaton and a sister Avis Chapman.

A memorial service for the immediate family will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in West Lafayette, IN. at 2:00 pm on December 18, 2020,  Pastor John Townsend officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery in West Lafayette, IN.  The service will be available via livestreaming at  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11wLNDTPEbmz4_EMezD4Dg .

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Gerald and Phyllis Isaacs Scholarship Fund either at Purdue University or University of Florida. Checks payable to Purdue Foundation should be sent to 403 Wood St. West Lafayette, IN 47907. Checks payable to the UF/IFAS Advancement, should be sent to P.O. Box 110170, Gainesville, FL 32611-0170.

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