Phyllis Stover Williams

Phyllis died September 21, 2012 peacefully at home in the loving comfort of her family. She was born Phyllis Elizabeth Walters July 3, 1918 in Johnstown, Pa, where she married W. Henry Stover in 1941, following graduation from National Cathedral School and Connecticut College. Phyllis and Henry and sons, Bill and Allen, wintered in Pass-A-Grille in the late '40s and moved to St. Petersburg Beach 1951. Henry had sold his business in Johnstown and they engaged in many civic and church activities in St. Petersburg. He was an early and active Suncoaster and helped form the first beaches Chamber of Commerce. Phyllis was active in the PTA, Cub Scouts, and helped organize the West St. Petersburg Children's Cotillion and the St. Petersburg Beach Garden Club. Phyllis was most proud that she was secretary of the board when the Crippled Children's Hospital moved and became All Children's Hospital. Phyllis and Henry gave the chapel in the new Building. She served on the Guild board and was its President and she chaired the Charity Ball. She was recognized in 1968 with the "Mrs. Santa Claus" award. She was a member of the court of the Queen of Hearts in1971. She served six years on the board of the South Pinellas Red Cross and chaired the committee on Service to Military Families during Vietnam. She was active for more than 50 years as a founding member of the Stuart Society at the Museum of Fine Arts and was its president in 1975. She was an Anthonian at St. Anthony's Hospital. Phyllis was an enthusiastic fund raiser for the March of Dimes, Heart Association, Cancer, Muscular Dystrophy and United Way. She was active at Pass-A-Grille Community Church before moving in the late '90s from the home she and Henry built in the mid '50s on St. Pete Beach to the Bayfront Tower. She became an active member of First Presbyterian Church. After the boys went to college, she and Henry traveled the world - he leading some trips as a travel consultant. Henry died on a trip in Austria in 1973. Phyllis married in 1975 John H. Williams (Jack), a retired Sears executive from Winston Salem, who had grown up in St. Petersburg. They had 25 wonderful years of friends and travel together, until his death in 2001. Phyllis loved reading, enjoyed her book club immensely and was always reading at least 2 books at a time. She stayed busy playing bridge daily, never missing a party and she was designated the night-time driver. Phyllis, honestly, never met anyone she didn't keep forever as a friend. Her Christmas card list spanned the globe. "Sweetie" as she was affectionately known by her sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren was loved and respected as a "grand dame". She was smart, generous, loving and a lovely lady. Her brother John W. Walters (Mary Barbara Walters) predeceased her. She is survived by Bill and Kathy Stover (St. Petersburg) and their children Victoria and Alfred Mordecai (San Marino, CA) and Bill and Corrie Stover (St. Petersburg); Allen and Susan Stover and their children Henry Stover and Elizabeth and Brian McCue (all of Atlanta) and by 4 great grandchildren; and by Jack Williams' three children John and Linda Williams (Clearwater), Stephanie Crumpler (Winston Salem) and Elizabeth and Thomas Davis (Winston Salem) and by 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She was very close to her cousin Peggy Lynch (John) and children, to her niece Sue Walters Ritch (Stephen) and nephews George Benson (Gail) and Kell Benson (Jackie) and their children. The family gives special thanks to Dr. Thomas Robinson, Dr. Jack Pyhel, Dr. Larry Williams and Dr. Warren Abel, BayCare and Hospice who combined to help Phyllis have a long and fully active life. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial at Memorial Park will be private. A memorial Service will be held Wednesday, September 26th at First Presbyterian Church at 4 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Museum of Fine Arts.