OBIT: Phyllis Croyle (Kittanning)

Phyllis Croyle, 80, of Kittanning, died Wednesday, September 08, 2010 at 4:20 AM with her children by her side at the Armstrong County Health Center.

Born in Indiana County on July 20, 1930, she was the daughter of Walter and L. Mabel (Hartman) Dunmire.

In addition to being a mother of three children, she worked outside the home as a caregiver for other families. She was a lifelong resident of Armstrong County.

She was involved in church activities and ministry for more than 50 years. She was a founding member of the Adrian Assembly of God (now Cornerstone Assembly of God) and Family-Life Church in Kittanning

Mrs. Croyle will perhaps be remembered best as “Mama Croyle” to viewers of Family-Life TV. Appearing weekly on the Sunday evening live television program with her husband and then her son, David, she would chat with viewers on the telephone and pray for the issues of their lives.

More recently, she spent her late-nights in the office of the Kittanning Paper, assisting with the printing and distribution of each edition.

She is survived by two sons: Robert W. Croyle and wife Nora of Adrian and the Reverend David J. Croyle and wife Lori Harris of Shelocta; one daughter: Linda Sue Foster and husband James of Cowansville; eleven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; three brothers: John F. Dunmire and wife Josephine of Ford City, James R. Dunmire and wife Shirley of New Jersey, and Richard W. Hancock and wife Doris of Ford City; and one sister: Twila J. Anthony and friend Howard of Ford City.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, the Reverend Robert F. Croyle, whom she married on December 24, 1945 and passed away on September 5, 2001; one great-grandchild; twin great-great-grandchildren; one brother: Harry Dunmire; and two sisters: Lois Sirochman and Margie Sober.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 PM today, Thursday, September 9, 2010 at the Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home in Kittanning. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 11AM, with the Reverend Paul Price from Cornerstone Worship Center in Indiana, Pennsylvania officiating.

Interment will take place in the Limestone Church Cemetery in Adrian, Washington Township.

In lieu of flowers, it was her request for contributions to be made in her memory to Family-Life, 114 South Jefferson Street, Kittanning, PA 16201.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.snydercrissman.com.