Phyllis M. Tobias, age 76, a longtime resident of Wheaton, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 27 surrounded by her loved ones at home.

Phyllis was born on August 27, 1934 in Chicago to Phyllis and James W. Milne, and moved with her family to Wheaton when she was one year old.. She graduated from Wheaton High School in 1952. She attended Wheaton College, and graduated from Michigan State University in 1956.

Over the course of her life, Phyllis enjoyed a variety of careers: she taught sixth grade at Churchill Elementary school in Glen Ellyn; she founded and directed the preschool at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church; and she had a long career with Ameritech where she held various positions in sales, marketing, and education.

Phyllis was an active member of College Church in Wheaton, where she enjoyed serving in a variety of ways, especially working with children. She was very artistic, and enjoyed a number of creative outlets. Most of all, she loved spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by her two daughters, Tricia (David) Reinhard of Wheaton, and Cindy (Glenn) Karsten of Grand Haven, MI; five grandchildren, Emily and Claire Reinhard, and Wes (Sara), Laura, and Rachel Karsten; her three siblings, Peggy (Tedd) Smith of Midlothian, VA, Nancy (Jack) Raimondi of Chapel Hill, NC, and Jim (Debora) Milne of Crestview, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Edger E. Tobias, and her parents.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. at College Church Commons, Washington and Seminary St. in Wheaton. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 30 at 10:30 a.m. at College Church in the sanctuary.. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to College Church or World Vision Inc. at www.worldvision.org.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630/668-0027.