Phyllis Ray Aitchison

Phyllis Teresa (Ray) Aitchison, 91, of New Castle passed away on July 13, 2013 at Glen Oaks Health Campus following a brief illness.
A lifelong resident of New Castle, IN, Phyllis was born there on July 9, 1922. She was a 1940 graduate of New Castle High School and attended Ball State Teacher’s College where she earned a degree in education. On August 10, 1944, Phyllis married her high school sweetheart, William J. Aitchison. After a short career as a secretary at World Bestos , she went on to substitute teach in the New Castle Community Schools for a number of years in the late 60’s through the early 70’s.
Phyllis enjoyed travel and visited Belgium several times over the years to spend time with her mother’s family who survived the German advance in the First World War. As a member of New Castle’s Southbound Seniors, Phyllis loved wintering in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She and Bill liked walking along the beach outside their condo, visiting with fellow snowbirds, and trying all the tasty restaurants within a 30 mile radius – their record was 40 different restaurants visited in a single season!
She is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years, Bill; a son, William R.(Teri) Aitchison of New Castle; four grandsons: William Brian (Katherine) of Indianapolis, Patrick (Rachel) of Beaverton, OR, John (Lindsay) of Seabrook, TX, and Capt. Paul (Jena) Aitchison of El Paso, TX. Three great grandchildren: Titus, Ainsley and Sydney of El Paso, TX. A nephew, Charles E. (Chuck) Waggoner, Jr. of New Castle; great niece Carrie Waggoner of Chicago, and great nephew Chris Daniel Waggoner of Bloomington.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Howard L. and Philomena (Vankerckhoven) Ray, sister and brother in law, Elaine and Charles E. Waggoner, and nephew, Stephen Waggoner.
Services will be 3:00 p.m. Monday, July 15, 2013 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Home with Rev. Arthur Whitaker of First United Presbyterian Church officiating. A private burial will follow at South Mound Cemetery. Friends may call 1:00-3:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the New Castle Alumni Association Fund through the: Henry County Community Foundation, 700 S. Memorial Drive, PO Box 6006, New Castle, IN 47362.
You may express condolences or share a memory of Phyllis at www.hinsey-brown.com