Phyllis Boulton, of Anacortes, passed away on the evening of Nov. 12, 2014. She was 93 years old. She was born in Hamilton, Washington, on June 2, 1921, the daughter of David and Florence (Woods) Moyer. Phyllis started out working for the U.S. Forest Service in the Cascades where she would hike out to the lookouts and stand watch for fire, and for enemy fighter planes. She met her future husband at a dance hall where their skills on the floor were evenly matched.
Phyllis joined the U.S. Navy as a WAVE during WWII and served in Washington, D.C. She and Alby Boulton were married at the South Post Chapel in Arlington, Virginia, on Valentine’s Day, 1945. Phyllis was honorably discharged from the Navy after attaining the rank of Yeoman, 2nd class, in October 1945. She and Alby returned to Anacortes and raised two children, Dave and Bonny. She worked in the high school as a secretary and delivered mail on a rural route on Guemes Island for the post office.
In retirement, Phyllis and Alby split their time between Winthrop and Yuma, Arizona. Phyllis remained active in both community and church, the American Legion, and folk dancing (clogging too!). The last two years of her life, Phyllis returned to Anacortes, where she enjoyed spending time with life-long friends and the comforts of living at Chandler’s Square. She had an extensive social life and made a deep impression on everyone she met. Phyllis was well loved. She brought a measure of spunk to all of our lives and she will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Albert Varney Boulton, and daughter Bonita Sue Pagel. Phyllis is survived by her son and his wife, Dave Boulton and Bobbie Neble, son-in-law Johnny Pagel, and grandsons, John (and wife, Jennifer), James, and Andrew. Great grandchildren include Alex, Eric, Reilly, Jack and Quinn, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 19) at the First Baptist Church in Anacortes. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m., on Thursday (Nov. 20) at Sullivan Cemetery in Winthrop. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory Inc., Anacortes and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Phyllis, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.
